Deputies honored for courage in dangerous situations

HOUSTON The more than 80 deputies are being recognized for everything from life-saving actions to getting dangerous criminals off the streets.

They are surrounded by danger every day, from traffic stops on the streets to cracking down on crime. They're always serving the community, but sometimes their actions and the way they respond to situations are anything but routine.

"The actions that we will be recognizing this evening are not actions for the faint of heart," Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said during the ceremony.

For example, Deputy Donald Hess who pulled a man from a burning car two years ago, and just last week he rescued a trapped driver from a car submerged in the water.

"Luck, that's the only thing I could say. I'm lucky God gave me the ability to be able to serve my fellow countrymen and my fellow citizens of Harris County," Hess said.

Last year, Deputy Don McCall was shot in the thigh during a gunfight with a suspect but it did not stop the police work and the suspect was arrested.

"Tonight we heard everything from bravery to professionalism to setting the new standards to developing new policy and procedures," Garcia said. "The folks that are here are just setting the bar."

In some cases, it's the teamwork that makes all the difference in the world. The Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force were recognized for the 2009 arrest of a very dangerous man.

They all spent minutes on stage, which is just a fraction of the many hours they spend protecting the streets.

The deputies and detention officers were nominated by supervisors and citizens for the actions.