NEWS RELEASE                                             

For Immediate Release
July 7, 2009
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
  (850) 651-7420

DEPUTY & DISPATCHER EARN THUMBS UP AWARD


Major Larry Ashley, Deputy Sheriff Mike Smith and Sheriff Ed Spooner

Communications Officer Ed Parr, Jennifer Smith, Adam Smith, Ken Smithand Deputy Sheriff Mike Smith

        Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Smith says a 911 medical emergency call he responded to June 26th turned into "an absolutely incredible experience". Deputy Smith  helped Jennifer Smith of  Clark Drive in Fort Walton Beach deliver a healthy 8 pound, 14 ounce baby boy.  He was assisted by instructions given over the radio by Okaloosa County  9-1-1 dispatcher Ed Parr.

        Both Smith and Parr today received a "Thumbs Up" award for a job well done by Dino Villani, Director of the Okaloosa County Department of  Public Safety.

        Deputy Smith came on board the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office 18 months ago, after retiring from his job as a security police officer at Hurlburt Field. He says he watched his own four children come into the world, but this spur-of-the-moment, hands-on experience was very different.

       Deputy Smith says he simply focused on keeping the mother calm and luckily had no time to get nervous or stressed. He went into the Smith house at 3:17 a.m. Adam Smith officially arrived a mere eight minutes later, at 3:25 a.m. Adam's parents say he is doing great. In fact, Adam, his parents, grandmother, and big sister Addison, were all on hand for the awards presentation Tuesday morning at the Communications Center in Crestview. 

       Sheriff Ed Spooner and Chief Deputy Larry Ashley were also on hand for the successful delivery celebration.

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