Whitfield and Platts receive hero honors

He received the Act of heroism award from Governor Brian Kemp.

Whitfield, Jr., a special agent with the Georgia Department of Corrections Investigations, talked about the incident that brought the award.

“It was on December 20, 2021, I was coming from Smith State Prison, and we were on the detail, but we were actually headed off duty,” Whitfield, Jr. said. “We were on Highway 25 and I remember seeing a truck that was flipped over on the highway. So, I seen smoke coming from the vehicle. I immediately grabbed my fire extinguisher out of the back of the trunk, ran toward the vehicle, and all I remember was trying to put the fire out, but it kept growing. So, I took the end of the fire extinguisher and busted out one of the windows.”

He and others at the scene heard voices inside the vehicle and he and a civilian helped pull the people out of the burning vehicle, including a three-year-old boy and his father and mother. The mother was unconscious and they were trying to get her to respond.

“The father, somebody walked him to another secure area. The three-year-old little boy we actually administered CPR on him,” said the officer.

He added that they provided preliminary care until EMS arrived, while his partner, Platts, secured the scene.

Whitfield, Jr. said he and Platts were first on the scene but were joined by members of the Burke County Sheriff’s Department.

The officer said it means a lot to him to be recognized because as law enforcement officers, they perform tasks like this regularly.

“For me to be recognized it was just everything,” Whitfield, Jr. said. “I believe that we should be appreciated or looked at for these duties we do. Unfortunately, everybody doesn’t, but I appreciate it.”