Sgt. Gary Timm of the Carlton County Sheriff's Department was just doing his duty - but the exemplary way he performed that duty has garnered him a Life Saving Award from his department.
At Tuesday's meeting of the Carlton County Board, Sheriff Kelly Lake praised Timm for his actions during two recent incidents that helped saved the lives of those he was assisting.
Lake said on the morning of April 25, members of the sheriff's department were called to a verbal domestic. As deputies arrived on the scene and made entry into the residence, a male with a rifle met them in a back bedroom. The male retreated into a small bathroom, placed the barrel of the rifle in his mouth, and was threatening suicide.
Lake said Sgt. Timm arrived moments later and immediately and without hesitation verbally engaged the male, who remained in the bathroom with the barrel of the gun in his mouth and his finger on the trigger.
Sgt. Timm talked with the male for a half an hour in a way that Lake said allowed him to build a rapport with the man, eventually convincing him to give up his rifle and come out of the bathroom.
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"This was an extremely tense and challenging situation that could have very easily ended with a disastrous result in numerous different ways," quoted Lake from statements taken from fellow deputies. "We observed Sgt. Timm act with an enormous amount of professionalism and leadership. It is this professionalism and leadership that ended this situation with a positive outcome for all involved."
Later that week, Sgt. Timm also responded to another call of a male threatening to harm himself with a shotgun. Lake reported that Sgt. Timm located the male and after talking with him, was able to get the man reunited with his family and to the medical professionals to seek help for psychological issues before he harmed himself or anyone else.
At Tuesday's meeting, with Timm's family and friends looking on, Lake presented him with an award plaque and the appreciation of the department and the county for his exemplary efforts.
Timm has been with the Carlton County Sheriff's Department since 1979.
