FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga — Deputy Daniel Rush received Deputy Sheriff of the Year Award of Valor after his heroic efforts early June.
According to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s office, the award recognizes a deputy who demonstrated an act of conspicuous heroism and bravery in the line of duty.
Rush was shot in the leg by Dennis Marx, outside of the Forsyth County courthouse June 6. A SWAT team, which was on its way to a separate incident, arrived at the courthouse within 37 seconds. Marx was shot dead in front of the courthouse a short time later.
“His emotional state was very fragile. He was very sensitive, very, very, scared. He has no prior criminal history. He was obsessed with not going to jail,” Ann Shafer said.
The gunman’s former attorney told Channel 2 Action News that, leading up to the shooting, Marx was emotionally unbalanced.
None of the other deputies involved in the incident were injured.
Deputies and speakers at the ceremony credited Rush for helping save lives that day.