Three inmates were praised by the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office (GCSO) after saving a deputy, who was suffering from a cardiac accident.

According to Fox News, Deputy Warren Hobbs was sleeping on duty, when Mitchell Smalls, one of the inmates, noticed his unnatural snoring and strange sitting posture in his chair. Smalls said, "Kinda was like laying back in his chair and just started [making noises]."

3 Inmates Appreciate for Saving the Life of a Deputy

(Photo : Twitter Screenshot)
Gwinnett Sheriff's Office @GwinnettSO Kudos to these inmates for coming to the aid of our deputy when he suffered a cardiac emergency in a jail housing unit. We thank them for their timely assistance and the lesson their actions provide. It's not the uniform that makes a hero. It's the person wearing it.

Hobbs then fell and hit his head on the ground. The impact sparked bleeding from a head wound and the deputy had fallen unconscious.

The rooms of the inmates are close enough to see what is happening to the deputy. The inmates began pounding their doors. Soon the entire unit with more than 60 inmates yelled and pounded on their doors.

Being inside the railings, Smalls did what he can only do. "I started hollering and screaming and banging on the door to alert everybody to wake up," Smalls said. Meanwhile, Terry Lovelace, another inmate, said that he could see Deputy Hobbs regain consciousness and try to get up.

Deputy Hobbs seemed to bring back his consciousness with the noise that the entire unit made. Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office said that the deputy only remembered the noise that sounded like drums, and people were shouting "Deputy Hobbs."

Hobbs thought an inmate needed help. That's why he managed to rise from his feet and press the control panel to open the cell doors, according to Atlanta Fox 5 News. Lovelace said, "He grabbed hold of his desk, and he was pulling himself up like this. It was sad because it didn't look good at all, but the man had to fight with him to get up. As he comes up, I can make eye contact with him. I'm like deputy Hobbs, Deputy Hobbs, please."

The deputy was able to unlock Lovelace and Walter Whitehead's room. The two inmates immediately ran out of their cell to go downstairs and rescue Hobbs. Lovelace used Hobbs radio to call for help while Whitehead grabbed the phone to seek rescue. Help arrived and took over after a few seconds.

Deputy Hobbs is under medical care at home and is now recovering. Hobbs said that he is thankful for the timely response of the three men.

The sheriff's office said that the inmates saved the deputy because Hobbs treats people with the dignity they deserve. Although inmates had no obligation to render aid to a bleeding deputy, still they did not hesitate. "Many people have strong opinions about law enforcement officers and criminals, but this incident clearly illustrates the potential goodness found in both," GCSO added.

On Twitter, the sheriff's office recognized the good deed of the inmates and said that it's not the uniform that makes a hero, but rather the person wearing it.

 

A single deputy spent 12 hours a day with the inmates, so it is no doubt that they developed relationships with them. The inmates said it is the relationship that looks beyond what uniform a person is wearing and relies on mutual respect.

Smalls, Lovelace, and Whitehead said that it was not about an inmate helping a deputy, but about a person helping another who has a serious medical emergency. Whitehead added that he is scared, but that time he doesn't care if it is a police officer or not. Whitehead wants to do whatever he can to save a man because he doesn't want anyone to die.

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