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Kyle Lee recognized as lifesaver; 2 other deputies honored for DUI enforcement
The efforts of three Putnam County sheriff’s deputies to keep local residents safe were recognized this week.
With most county deputies gathered for training at the Putnam County Emergency Operations Center, Deputy Kyle Lee was honored for his lifesaving efforts in a July incident, while deputies Robert Soilleux and Derek Line were recognized for their DUI enforcement in 2020.
On Wednesday, July 21, police and emergency medical personnel were called to an emergency situation in Warren Township.
Arriving first, Deputy Lee and Sgt. Riley Houghton found a patient with a severely lacerated artery in an arm. Acting quickly, Lee utilized his department-issued tourniquet to slow the blood loss until medics could arrive.
“This was really a life-saving effort,” Sheriff Scott Stockton said before presenting the award.
Putnam County EMS Deputy Chief Anthony Taylor concurred, saying the injury was not of the sort that would heal without medical intervention, one that ended up requiring surgery.
“The laceration was ultimately life-threatening,” Taylor said. “The application of that tourniquet ultimately did save a life.”
Deputy Lee has spent 8-1/2 years in law enforcement, having joined the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office in May 2019, following his tenure with Greencastle Police Department.
With the subject of the day’s training being drunk driving enforcement, Soilleux and Line received awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for their drunk driving enforcement in the previous calendar year.
Soilleux, who has been with PCSO since 2017, made 16 driving under the influence arrests in 2020, the top figure in the department. Prior to his time at PCSO, Soilleux began his career in the small town of Kewanna in Northern Indiana.
Line was actually hired by the department as a full-time deputy in January 2020, making eight DUI arrests during the remainder of the year. Previously, he had worked with the Bloomington and Indiana University police departments, as well as serving as an embassy guard with the U.S. Marines.
Pam Kelshaw of MADD made the presentation, explaining her own story, which included losing her daughter to a drunk driver 19 years ago and a nephew eight years ago.
She noted the enormity of the problem of impaired driving in the United States, saying that on average 300,000 impaired drivers get behind the wheel each day, with someone injured in such incidents every two minutes.
“With your help, we are getting these people off the road,” Kelshaw said.
She thanked Soilleux, Line and the rest of the gathered deputies for their efforts.
“I want to thank all of you for your hard work,” Kelshaw said.