Washington County Sheriff Honors Deputies, Civilian

STAFF PHOTO ANDY SHUPE Sheriff Tim Helder, left, smiles with Matthew Kesner on Thursday as Kesner is awarded the Outstanding Citizen Award during the annual Washington County Sheriff’s Office Awards and Promotional Ceremony in Fayetteville. Kesner assisted the Sheriff’s Office by enhancing video taken at a crime scene.

STAFF PHOTO ANDY SHUPE Sheriff Tim Helder, left, smiles with Matthew Kesner on Thursday as Kesner is awarded the Outstanding Citizen Award during the annual Washington County Sheriff’s Office Awards and Promotional Ceremony in Fayetteville. Kesner assisted the Sheriff’s Office by enhancing video taken at a crime scene.

Friday, March 21, 2014

FAYETTEVILLE -- A Washington County Sheriff's Office deputy was honored Thursday for keeping a suicidal man from killing himself last year, one of several awards given during an afternoon ceremony.

Twice a year the office gives promotions, commendations and the Outstanding Citizen Award. The citizen award was given for help in solving a murder, as was another commendation for another deputy.

"It's always a pleasure every time to recognize those who have achieved," Maj. Rick Hoyt said, noting Thursday's was the 12th ceremony. "I can't wait for the 13th one."

Brian Magee, deputy first class, received the Life Saving Award for quickly talking down an inmate from a second-floor balcony in the detention center early one morning in September. It was his second commendation.

Hoyt said the man let go of a side rail when Magee shouted to him. The man caught himself and spoke with Magee for around 20 minutes before climbing back over.

"Anything that really came to mind -- his family, his kids, what his charges were," Magee said afterward, referring to what they talked about.

"He was afraid he was going to prison for the rest of his life," Magee said, adding the man's charges weren't that serious. "Definitely not worth jumping off the railing for."

The citizen's award went to Matthew Kesner, who donated his video editing and enhancement skills to help clarify gasoline station surveillance video connected to the 2013 death of Ronnie Bradley. After Kesner's help, Hoyt said, the video clearly showed a body falling from the vehicle of four suspects and helped in their trial.

Deputy Randall Galloway also was commended for helping to solve a murder, this time of an infant in 2012. While looking into the death in Springdale a year ago, Galloway noticed the infant's father was connected to another child's 2011 death that was unsolved. The father eventually confessed to both deaths.

Finally, Cpl. Alvria Hill was honored for tracking down one of the office's most wanted felons, who had failed to register as a sex offender but renewed his driver's license in another county.

"More than anything, I'm proud to be sheriff of this organization," said Sheriff Tim Helder.

NW News on 03/21/2014