Derek Dixon

Deputy Derek Dixon was honored as the Shelby County Sheriff Department’s Officer of the Year by the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, in September, at its annual luncheon.

Dixon and ten others were honored as this year’s Public Safety Award winners.

At the luncheon, Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry introduced Dixon and relayed a story about him.

Dixon and his family were attending a reunion in Winnsboro, La. when a relative noticed something suspicious at the bottom of the swimming pool, said Curry. Dixon’s son Derek Jr. swam down and discovered Patrick Peters, 4, lying at the bottom.

When Peters was pulled from the pool, he was lifeless and Dixon took charge of the situation, said Curry. He immediately started CPR and instructed others to call 911, he said.

The youngster was treated and released from St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, La., four days later, said Curry.

“It’s a busy world and public safety people are busy people. A public safety officer’s experience applies 24/7 and it doesn’t have to be in your hometown or county. You pay public safety officers for what they might have to do and what they know,” he said.

Dixon is the son of Mary Dixon of Moultrie.