Deputy of the Year

2011 Charles “Bud” Meeks Deputy Sheriff of the Year
Detective Brandon Moore
Morrow County, OH

Detective Brandon Moore, Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, has been selected as the recipient of the 2011 Charles “Bud” Meeks Award for Deputy Sheriff of the Year.

Detective Moore is an eight-year veteran of the Morrow County Sher¬iff’s Office. Detective Moore has been a law enforcement officer for over 13 years and started his career in law enforcement at the Depart¬ment of Public Safety at Moody Bible College in September 1997.

On Thursday, October 21st, 2010, Det. Moore responded to a property dispute call. Det. Moore, along with several other deputies, was able to settle the dispute between the neighbors. How¬ever, Det. Moore had reason to believe that there were marijuana plants being grown on the residence of one of the disputing neighbors’ properties.

The other deputies left to respond to other urgent calls while Det. Moore investigated the drug allegations. Det. Moore, along with the assailant’s neighbors, was able to see the marijuana plants being grown on the property. While he was determining the best action to take, the assail¬ant, who had a 5.56 caliber assault rifle and ballistic vest, charged him and began firing at him and at the neighbors.

Det. Moore was standing at the back of his vehicle about fifty meters away from the assailant. He was hit by gunfire and went to the ground. While holding his wounds with one hand, he returned fire with his service weapon. Despite being severely injured from five bullets hitting his side, groin, left leg, left foot, and right shoulder, Det. Moore was able to hit the assailant four times from fifty yards away. The neighbors were shot at but thanks to his heroism, none of them were shot or hurt.

After the shooting was over, Det. Moore remained calm and used his belt as a tourniquet on his leg. While help was on the way, he instructed the assailant’s neighbor on how to operate his phone so he could call his wife to tell her that he loved her and to try to assure her that he was coming home to her before someone told her he wasn’t.

While securing the scene after the gunfire, investigators discovered 1,700 marijuana plants, 103 firearms, 29,500 rounds of ammunition, and numerous swords and knives in the assailant’s house.

The Charles "Bud" Meeks Award for Deputy Sheriff of the Year was established to recognize deputy sheriffs who have demonstrated conspicuous bravery in the performance of their duties. The award is given in memory and honor of Charles "Bud" Meeks, who served as executive director of the National Sheriffs' Association from 1989 to 1997 and in 2000.

This year's award is sponsored by Motorola, Inc.