Governor Deal honors Monroe Co. Sheriff’s deputy

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Wilson and Sheriff John Cary Bittick received the Governor’s Public Safety Award from Governor Nathan Deal Monday.

The award highlighted Deputy Wilson’s acts of bravery on September 13, 2014.

Wilson was shot, deputy Michael Norris was killed.

Deputy Wilson apprehended the suspect while suffering from several gunshots during the shoot out.

The Governor’s Public Safety Awards Program (GPSA) was initiated in 1998 in order to provide an opportunity for the men and women in the public safety family to be recognized for outstanding service to their communities and contributions to their profession.

Former Governor Zell Miller started the award.

“While we have appropriately honored those who have fallen, I would like to establish an organization that would also honor those who by virtue of their personal integrity and determination make public safety the respectable and necessary profession it is,” said Miller.