Game, Fish officers saluted for dam rescue

LITTLE ROCK — On the evening of April 8, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Sgt. Ben Sisk and officer Billy Williams quickly launched their boat into the Arkansas River.

The two were responding to a craft in distress at Ozark-Jeta-Taylor Lock and Dam in Franklin County. A pontoon boat with three people aboard was stuck at a floodgate in the flow of recent rainwater and was in danger of capsizing.

Sisk and Williams tried a few times to pull the boaters to safety but were unsuccessful. Then Sisk requested for the open gates to be closed, giving him and Williams about a 2-minute window to reach the boaters.

Facing the danger that the water would soon be rushing over the dam, Sisk and Williams latched on to the boat and pulled it and its occupants to safety.

For their actions that April evening, Sisk and Williams were honored Wednesday with Officer of the Year awards at the 13th annual Arkansas Law Enforcement Summit awards luncheon. The event was held at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock.

“It’s a great honor,” Sisk said of receiving the award.

In her nomination letter, Game and Fish Commission Lt. Nakia Crims said, “[Sisk and Williams] demonstrated a tremendous amount of courage … to perform such a dangerous rescue at night.”

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge hosted the luncheon Wednesday as part of two days of free training and educational opportunities for more than 600 members of Arkansas’ law enforcement community. About 50 agencies from around the state attended the event.

“Your service to your communities each and every day is deeply appreciated,” Rutledge told the law enforcement members gathered at the luncheon.

“You put yourself ahead of others in protecting your community from those who may seek to harm it. Your dedication to the lives of your neighbors is unparalleled. Thank you all for your commitment.”

Four district Officers of the Year were also honored at the luncheon: Cpl. Victor Coleman from the Arkansas State Police, detective Christian Sterka with the Little Rock Police Department, officer Grant Hall of the Lowell Police Department and investigator Gary Don Dorman with the Hempstead County sheriff’s office.

Municipality, county and state law enforcement agencies nominated officers. The winners were selected by retired law enforcement members from around the state.

Before the awards were announced, Rutledge handed out a valor tribute to the family of Sonny Smith, a Johnson County sheriff’s reserve deputy who was shot and killed while responding to a burglary call in May.

“What stood out to me … when I attended Deputy Smith’s funeral service was the legacy he is leaving for his children,” Rutledge said. “The children spoke at the service of the lessons that their daddy had taught them.

“Through his children, I knew what kind of a man Sonny was, even though I never got to meet him.”

Titus, a Little Rock police dog who died of heat-related illnesses in July after chasing and subduing a car burglary suspect, was also recognized with a valor tribute. Titus’ handler, officer Jason Farmer, accepted the tribute.