St. Augustine, FL – A former second in command at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is recognized for saving a fellow deputy’s life nearly 40 years ago.
Rick Staly – who retired in April as an Undersheriff at FCSO – was awarded the state Medal of Heroism on Tuesday by Governor Rick Scott during a meeting of the Florida Cabinet.
“During my years of law enforcement service, I worked alongside countless brave men and women who also deserve to be recognized as heroes,” Staly said in a press release from Scott’s office. “I am proud to represent them.”
The 59-year-old Staly received the medal for an incident in 1978 when he was shot while working as a deputy for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Staly and another OCSO deputy responded to a Pine Hills gas station that day after an FHP trooper called for help in finding a suspect who had left the scene of a disturbance.
According to authorities, that suspect attacked OCSO Deputy Edwin Sarver during the search and managed to take control of Sarver’s gun, pointing it at him.
Staly managed to step in the way and was shot 3 times in the chest and arms by the suspect, who was caught soon afterward other law enforcement agents.
“Staly did not hesitate to risk his life to protect a fellow officer and I am honored to recognize his tremendous courage today,” Scott said in the press release. “Rick served Florida families as a law enforcement officer for 40 years and I am thankful to him and his fellow officers for their selfless commitment to protecting our state.”
Staly rose through the ranks at OCSO to become the Undersheriff before retiring in 2001. He became FCSO’s Undersheriff in January 2013, soon after current Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre was re-elected.
The photos above and below are courtesy of Rick Scott’s office.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.