News

Above & Beyond Award, 10/15

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Foundation presents an award within PBSO called the Above & Beyond Award.

The Above & Beyond Award recipients for October are Lake Worth Community Policing Deputies Christopher Johnson and Devin Zuchowski.

The District 14 Community Policing Unit was assigned to Lake Worth Beach during the Memorial Day weekend. The deputies were patrolling in cars, on bikes, on foot and on ATVs. On that Monday afternoon, two ATV deputies observed someone struggling in the water approximately 30 yards off the shoreline.

Deputy Christopher Johnson and Deputy Devin Zuchowski responded and began yelling to the swimmer to swim parallel to the shore since it appeared he may be caught in a rip current. The swimmer was yelling for help but soon appeared to be exhausted. He then stopped yelling and started having problems keeping his head above the water.

Seeing the swimmer in extreme distress, Deputies Johnson and Zuchowski quickly dove into the water. After reaching the swimmer, the deputies began swimming with him out of the rip current. They were able to return the swimmer to the shore and reunite him with his family. The beachgoers who had gathered to watch gave the deputies a big round of applause.

Thanks to the quick thinking and selfless actions of deputies Johnson and Zuchowski, a local resident and father of 2 was saved from drowning. Deputy Christopher Johnson and Deputy Devin Zuchowski, the Sheriff’s Foundation thanks you for going Above & Beyond!

It was special to have the rescued swimmer, Mr. Neil Nguyen, at the awards, and his heartfelt expression of thanks brought a tear to everyone's eyes.