AUSTIN / McLENNAN COUNTY, Texas — Five Central Texas law-enforcement professionals were recognized with a 2026 State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Award for Valor after a fast-moving flood rescue that officials said ended moments before a trapped vehicle was submerged.

FOX 44 reported, citing the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, that Sergeant Joseph Ballew of the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Constable Robert Leathers of McLennan County Constable’s Office Precinct 1, Sgt. Robin “Rob” Douglas of the Mart Police Department, and Texas Game Wardens Michael Serbanic and Michael Ferguson were presented with the valor award Friday.

A rescue measured in seconds

The recognition was tied to a May 6, 2025 water rescue at 323 Battle Lake Road in McLennan County, according to the report.

In an earlier account of the rescue, FOX 44 reported that the sheriff’s office was dispatched at approximately 12:54 p.m. after a caller said he was trapped in a vehicle by rising floodwaters across a private driveway. The caller reported water entering the vehicle and reaching seat level.

The report said a Mart Police officer arrived at about 12:57 p.m. and found the vehicle roughly 100 yards off the roadway in a fast-moving creek. A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden arrived minutes later, followed by sheriff’s deputies and volunteer fire personnel.

According to the FOX 44 account, rescuers could not get the man out through the rear glass because the opening was too small. Officers broke the driver’s-side window and removed him about 15 seconds before the vehicle became fully submerged and was swept farther into the creek.

Valor award after multi-agency response

FOX 44 reported that the sheriff’s office credited the award recipients’ teamwork, quick thinking and willingness to put themselves in harm’s way during the dangerous rescue.

“To Sgt. Ballew and each of the award recipients thank you for your courage, selfless service, and unwavering commitment to protecting others,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement, according to FOX 44.

The station reported that the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement honored 63 law-enforcement professionals Friday for exceptional acts of public service, professional achievement and valor. The awards are presented to selected peace officers, reserve officers, jailers, custodial officers and telecommunicators licensed by TCOLE, according to the report.

Why this story matters

The story is a reminder that flood-rescue calls can become life-or-death public-safety moments within minutes. In this case, multiple agencies — sheriff’s deputies, constable personnel, Mart police, Texas game wardens and volunteer fire responders — converged on a moving-water emergency where seconds mattered.

ThinBlueNews is limiting the victim details to what was publicly reported and is focusing on the source-backed recognition of the responders and the multi-agency rescue work.

Sources reviewed

Editorial note: This article uses source-backed local reporting and a real source photo from FOX 44’s award coverage, avoids naming or identifying the rescued driver beyond the public source, and uses no AI-generated rescue or officer imagery.