Crisp County Sheriff’s Office proudly announces that Sergeant Jesse Barfield, Deputy First Class Lance Spurling, and Corporal Michael Telfair received the Act of Heroism Award at the Governor’s Public Safety Awards Ceremony. The awards are given to someone with extraordinary courage to save or protect human life, regardless of personal safety.

In the early morning of Wednesday, July 5, 2023, around 3:40 A.M., a Crisp County Sheriff’s Deputy encountered a vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway on the 1300 Block of HWY 280 West in Cordele, Georgia. A check revealed the car had been stolen earlier.

When Deputy Tyee Brown approached, he was shot and critically injured. Deputy First Class (DFC) Spurling was the first to arrive on the scene and found Deputy Browne on the ground. Upon exiting his patrol vehicle, DFC Spurling saw the suspect pointing a rifle at him. (An investigation later revealed the suspect’s rifle had jammed.)

The suspect fled and took control of Deputy Browne’s patrol vehicle. As the suspect drove past the scene, DFC Spurling attempted to neutralize the threat, firing multiple shots from his service weapon. Despite his efforts, the suspect managed to escape. Sergeant Jesse Barfield arrived shortly afterward, and both DFC Spurling and Sergeant Barfield provided essential aid to Deputy Browne following the shooting.

Crisp County EMS transported Deputy Browne to Crisp Regional Hospital. Meanwhile, Corporal Telfair pursued the suspect who was driving the stolen patrol vehicle. Corporal Telfair discharged two rounds through his patrol car’s windshield but was unable to stop the suspect. The suspect led officers on a multi-county pursuit before being apprehended at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on I-475, where they also recovered the stolen vehicle. Tragically, Deputy Tyee Brown succumbed to his injuries at Crisp Regional Hospital.

The Governor’s Public Safety Awards Program (GPSA) was initiated in 1998 to allow the men and women in the public safety family to be recognized for outstanding service to the communities and contributions to their profession.