JSO reserve officer receives national honor

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reserve officer was honored as the National Sheriff's Association's 2014 Reserve Deputy Sheriff of the Year on Monday at the NSA's annual conference in Forth Worth, Texas.

Bill Coyle was recognized for his help after a November 2012 traffic crash, when a van hit several vehicles and people and sheared off a gas pump on West Beaver Street in Jacksonville.

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Coyle witnessed the crash while he was off-duty and ran over and assisted the victims. He ensured they were out of danger as the fire began to spread and then called 911. He stayed to manage the scene until police and rescue workers arrived.

Coyle, who works for CSX Transportation, gave JSO officers a detailed description of the suspect, who had fled the scene. The officers later located the suspect and made an arrest in the case.

"We couldn't be as effective as we are without the reserve officers who train and work beside our sworn officers," Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford said in a news release. "I am very proud of Bill's actions on that day, as his training and concern for the citizens of this community took over when he removed people from imminent danger and helped us apprehend the suspect."

To learn more about JSO's Reserve Officer Program, visit http://tinyurl.com/jsoreserve.


About the Author:

A Jacksonville native and proud University of North Florida alum, Francine Frazier has been with News4Jax since 2014 after spending nine years at The Florida Times-Union.