Chadd, Boller receive Act of Valor honors
The Putnam County Sheriff's Merit Board honored two Putnam County Sheriff's Department officials Friday afternoon for their recent bravery in the line of duty.
Board President Bill Newgent honored Sgt. Jon Chadd and Cpl. Josh Boller for their recent actions, which resulted in two people's lives being saved.
"I'd just like to say that we're recognizing two officers today for their act of valor," Newgent explained. "Fortunately or unfortunately I was on both of these incidents."
First to be honored was Chadd, who responded to a single-vehicle accident on Oct. 14, in which both the front-seat passenger and the driver of the vehicle were trapped.
The vehicle, which was carrying four passengers total, was traveling westbound on State Road 240, when it crossed the eastbound lane and left the roadway on the south side, traveling nearly 750 feet for unknown reasons.
Upon leaving the road, it struck a utility pole, continued westbound in a field where it struck an unoccupied farm truck. After striking the truck, the car went down a hill before striking a creek embankment and coming to rest in the creek.
"He put his life in danger to save another," Newgent said. "While Jon was helping extricate the male subject (Fillmore man Daniel D. Trivett) the car actually caught on fire.
"Unfortunately, there was a female that was trapped in the car that was already deceased, but Jon definitely pus his life in danger to save another by pulling that victim out of that car and pulling him up the hill and getting him away from the vehicle."
Boller was again honored for his actions during a Dec. 22 house fire, in which he rushed into the burning residence at 1701 Albin Pond Rd. to pull Norma Albin from the smoke and fire that had engulfed her home.
"Josh and some other officers rushed to the scene," Newgent said. "Josh didn't think twice and went inside the house, grabbed the lady and brought her out to safety. There is no doubt that if Josh wouldn't have taken those actions we would not have that lady here today."
Both Chadd and Boller received plaques commemorating their acts of valor.