Sarasota County Deputies Lauded for Heroic Life-Saving Efforts in Drownings, Choking Incidents

Sarasota County Deputies Honored for Life-Saving Actions in Recent Ceremony

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman presented several awards at a ceremony on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, recognizing deputies for their heroic actions in various life-saving situations. The awards highlighted the critical role of quick thinking and expert training in preserving lives within the community.

Deputies Michael Wieczorek and Christopher Wieczorek received the Life Saving Award for their rapid response to a medical emergency. They found a victim face down in the deep end of a pool at an apartment complex. Christopher Wieczorek, with assistance from a resident, removed the individual from the water and immediately began life-saving measures. Michael Wieczorek arrived shortly after and assisted with CPR until Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) personnel took over. The victim survived due to their decisive actions.

Sergeant Sarah Sanchez earned a Life Saving Award for her quick intervention during a choking incident at a local restaurant. While on a lunch break, an off-duty police officer from Ohio alerted her to a choking patron. Sanchez assessed the situation, requested Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and worked with the off-duty officer who performed abdominal thrusts. When the victim became unresponsive, Sanchez initiated chest compressions, repositioned the individual, and successfully removed the obstruction from the airway. The victim regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

Deputy Holly Forrester also received a Life Saving Award for her response to a drowning incident involving a three-year-old child. Forrester was the first to arrive at the scene, finding the child unresponsive with no detectable pulse. She immediately began chest compressions and instructed the child’s father to provide rescue breaths. After several rounds of compressions, Forrester detected a pulse. SCFD arrived, continued life-saving measures, and transported the child via helicopter to the hospital.

Off-duty Sergeant Dale Ellis was honored with the Life Saving Award for his heroic actions at a boat ramp. He responded to a truck sliding backward into the water with a three-year-old child trapped in the backseat. Ellis swam to the sinking truck, climbed onto the rear bed cover, and unbuckled the child through an open rear window. With assistance from the parents, who had escaped the truck, he safely extracted the child through the driver’s side door, preventing a potential drowning.

Sheriff Hoffman praised the deputies, stating, “The stories we heard today reminded us of the importance of good training and deputies who are constantly aware of the situations around them. We are proud of the extraordinary effort put forth by our deputies every day that they serve our community and even when they are off duty.” The ceremony underscored the department’s commitment to public safety and the readiness of its personnel to act in critical moments.