A Bartow firefighter was named the firefighter for the second time in the last three years and the Bartow police officer who won Officer of the Year was commended for diving through a plate-glass window to catch a runaway theft suspect as he won the award.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of the Year saved a 10-month-old choking baby and held him until emergency medical personnel arrived, saying his action saved the infant’s life.

The presentations were made by the Bartow Rotary Club in its annual Officer of the Year awards Wednesday. Before naming the winners, Rotary President Steve Githens thanked everyone in the three departments for what they do to make life better for everyone.

“Their sacrifice is tremendous,” he said. “We cannot begin to thank you for all that you do.”

Jeff Adams was nominated for Firefighter of the Year by last year’s winner, Chris Walker. Last year, Walker was nominated for the award by Adams.

Adams was quite surprised when he found out about the award four days earlier. He was almost apprehensive about getting it because he doesn’t do what he does to be noticed, he does it because he loves what he does.

“I don’t really want people to know about things. I like to keep a low profile,” he said following the meeting Wednesday.

In his nomination letter Walker wrote, “Not many know about Firefighter Adams’ off-duty activities in the community but he just so happens to be a good friend of mine therefore I do.”

Adams is a Guardian Ad Litem, helping children through hard times and serving as a role model and mentor. He helps the elderly by delivering food and doing anything else he can, Walker wrote. He added that Adams never seeks credit for what he does and “that is why I am nominating him.

“In my opinion, not one other person at this department shows the commitment for this city that Adams does.”

Bartow Police Chief Joe Hall nominated Officer John McLaughlin for helping to catch a man suspected of three armed robberies last year, without regard for his own safety.

Hall wrote that in January three armed robberies had taken place and a man named Willie Sullivan was suspected. Sullivan was accused of robbing an Amoco gas station on U.S. Highway 17 and a Circle K on Main Street in a 12-hour span. A day earlier he was suspected of robbing a Citgo on Main Street, police reports showed.

After a search was done a special operations unit was dispatched. After locating Sullivan, officers converged on him. After chasing him around Hughes Place and Parker Street, officers had a hard time finding the suspect. McLaughlin began checking vacant buildings in the area. Sullivan was hiding in one of the buildings and fled from McLaughlin, Hall wrote.

“McLaughlin gave chase as Sullivan dove through the glass in the window. Without regard for his own safety, Officer McLaughlin also dove through the window and continued to pursue Sullivan. After several blocks of a foot pursuit, McLaughlin apprehended Sullivan, bringing to an end a dangerous suspect loose on the streets,” Hall wrote.

The act apparently was not solitary,
as just this past week McLaughlin had to use a Taser to apprehend a suspect who was resisting arrest. The Bartow Police Department reported that Jose Garcia was arrested for allegedly stealing jewelry from a home on Johnson Street.

In a search of the area, officers found a man matching Garcia’s description and when the victim identified him, Garcia reportedly fled. However, McLaughlin chased and subdued him with a Taser.

The final award went to Deputy Sheriff Benjamin Kirkpatrick. While on patrol in the Northwest District last June, the deputy responded to a house on Chestnut Wood Drive to help Lakeland Fire Rescue with a person who was choking.

Upon arrival he discovered the person was a 10-month-old. Kirkpatrick noticed the baby had stopped breathing.

Kirkpatrick took the infant from his mother, placed him over his knee and gave him a few back thrusts. After four or five a piece of food and some mucus came from the baby’s mouth and he began to cry.

“Deputy Kirkpatrick continued to hold him and comfort him until paramedics arrived,” Polk Sheriff Grady Judd wrote in his nomination. “The Fire Department Supervisor on scene said if Deputy Kirkpatrick had not acted in the manner in which he did the child would undoubtedly have died.”