Sheriff's deputies honored for heroism

Two sheriff's deputies were honored by their department and their peers Tuesday for their performance at a Jan. 22 domestic assault.

Sheriff Jim Dupont gave awards to deputies Geno Cook and Luke Foster for their heroism at the incident, which ended with Cook firing a fatal shot at Terrance Sidener, 56. His wife escaped their home unhurt, into the deputies' care.

Both deputies are relative newcomers to the department.

Surrounded by other deputies and officers from other departments, Cook received the first distinguished service award ever given by Sheriff Jim Dupont in his 16 years in office.

He praised Cook for displaying "a professional calm and plenty of patience with the situation" and for "ending the danger to your fellow officers" when Sidener reportedly leveled a loaded gun toward sheriff's deputy, Sgt. Daryl Bain.

Foster received the meritorious service award. Dupont said that while the deputy has only been with the sheriff's department for eight months, he maintained his composure, provided cover for his fellow officers, and placed the woman in the back of his patrol car for safety.

"You displayed a confident, positive response to a high-stress situation, using a professional law-enforcement approach," Dupont said.

In addition to the deputies, the department credits its dispatchers for their work the night of the call. Tracy Finn, Deann Sampson, and Marjory McClaren "did a heck of a job," said Undersheriff Mike Meehan.

Dupont quoted Arthur Ashe:

"True heroism is remarkably sober and very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."