An Ohio County officer is receiving recognition from Washington for a heroic water rescue effort he made last summer in Wheeling Creek.
Corporal Richard White of the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office was one of many recipients for the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service in Policing award.
He was along side several other officers that assisted in the tragic Las Vegas mass shooting that happened back in 2017.
Last summer, White risked his life to save two kayakers who capsized into swift flood waters.
Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard said if White wouldn’t have been there, the outcome could have been deadly.
“It’s overwhelming. He did an awesome job,” Sheriff Howard said. “He went and saved two people from possibly drowning that day. If he would not have went in the water, they could have perished that day. We would have had a tragic accident.”
Corporal White gave a very humble response to his honor.
He told 7News, he was just doing his job.
“I just happened to be first on scene. I think there’s a lot of law enforcement officers that would have done the same thing,” Corporal White said about the day of the rescue. “I work with a lot of brave men and women who make great decisions every single day. It was very kind of the Attorney General to take some time out of his busy schedule and spend some time with all of the award recipients. It was a tremendous honor. He is a great man.”
Sheriff Howard added that he couldn’t be prouder of his officer and it was an honor to be at the ceremony alongside him.
