Monroe County deputy honored by governor for acts of bravery

Monroe County sheriff's Deputy Jeff Wilson has been honored for his acts of bravery when responding to a September 2014 call that left his work partner, Deputy Michael Norris, dead.

In a shootout with a reportedly suicidal man in southeastern Monroe County, Norris was fatally wounded. Though Wilson suffered multiple gunshot wounds, he was able to apprehend the shooter until more help could arrive.

Wilson was honored Monday in a ceremony at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth where he was given one of the Governor's Public Safety Awards for going "above and beyond the call of duty," according to the awards' website.

"Really, it's very humbling," Wilson said Tuesday. "It's been quite a deal for me. ... (Gov. Nathan Deal) put the medal around my neck and shook my hand. After it was all said and done, he looked at me and he goes, 'Great job. Congratulations.' I was very impressed. It made me feel real good."

Wilson is the second-ever recipient of one of the awards from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office since the awards debuted in 1998 under former Gov. Zell Miller. Sheriff John Cary Bittick received the award in 2001 for making significant contributions to the profession as the 60th president of the National Sheriffs' Association.

"It's obviously a big honor for the sheriff's office and the community for Jeff to get that award," Bittick said. "It's really been humbling for all of us here in the sheriff's office the way not only the Monroe County community but the entire Middle Georgia community has reacted to support the sheriff's office since Michael's death."

The award is not the first Wilson has received since the shooting. In January, he was named Monroe County's Citizen of the Year; The National Sheriffs' Association tapped Norris and Wilson to receive the 2015 Charles "Bud" Meeks Valor Award; and the Georgia Sheriffs' Association awarded Wilson the Deputy Sheriff Award of Valor.

Wilson was shot in his stomach and leg, injuries that demanded lots of rest and physical therapy before he was able to return to work.

"I'm about 100 percent as I'm going to get, according to the doctor," Wilson said. "I still have some issues here and there. ... But I'm walking and talking, and I'm not going to complain about it."

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter@Lauraecor.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Monroe County deputy honored by governor for acts of bravery ."