Dawson, a K-9 handler, was recognized for his heroism while rescuing a three-year-old child from a burning home in Palm Coast last October, according to a release.“Deputy Dawson exemplifies a life of dedicated service and acts of kindness and compassion, both professionally and personally,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, who was on hand to see Dawson win the award, said. “His quick response and courage prevented what could have been a terrible tragedy.
According to the release, on Oct. 17, 2021, Deputy Dawson responded to a house fire in the W section of Palm Coast. He discovered flames inside the kitchen and thick black smoke spreading from there to the rest of the home. After receiving no response from anyone inside, Deputy Dawson entered the home through an unlocked screen door in the back patio and spotted the child watching cartoons while hiding under a blanket in the master bedroom.
A deputy rescued a toddler from a Palm Coast house fire over the weekend, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.