In Rotary’s ideals of Vocational Service, our Law Enforcement, Fire Safety, First Responders, and other public safety personnel serve above self within their profession each day. They ask for a fair wage and the opportunity to serve, yet their level of service has the potential to far exceed normal expectations of “Service Above Self.” In 2021, Rotary International developed a method for Rotary Clubs to honor those community heroes who share our creed of “Service Above Self” within their professions and the club reached out to leaders in law enforcement and public safety for nominations.

In this third year of awarding the Rotary National Medal of Honor, the Rotary Club of Americus wishes to recognize four public service personnel for providing exemplary service to the citizens of the Americus and Sumter County community. We are honored to award these individuals who share a core value of the 1.4 million Rotary International members, worldwide, which is “Service Above Self."

On a week when we recognize the National Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week, we are thrilled to honor our law enforcement officers as well as first responders with the Rotary "Service Above Self" National Medal of Honor. The Americus Rotary Club presented the Deputy of the Year to Sgt. John Harty of the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, Police Officer of the Year to Lt. Al Ross of the Americus Police Department, and Firefighters of the Year to Richard Coleman of the Sumter County Fire Department and Jared Ward, Fire Marshal with the Americus Fire Department.

Pictured: Richard Coleman, Firefighter of the Year; Lt. Al Ross, Police Officer of the Year; Kathryn Moore, President of the Americus Rotary Club; and Sgt. John Harty, Deputy of the Year. Not pictured: Jared Ward, Firefighter of the Year.