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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 13, 2024) - More than two dozen Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources employees have received special awards for outstanding service in 2023.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Rich Storm and Deputy Commissioners Brian Clark and Gabe Jenkins were on hand as directors from all seven agency divisions presented awards to deserving staff, including Administrative Services; Engineering, Infrastructure and Technology; Fisheries; Information and Education; Law Enforcement; Marketing; and Wildlife.
An Adair County man received the Kentucky Conservation Officers Lifesaving Award.
Zack Carney is a Conservation Officer Sergeant and has worked for KY Fish & Wildlife for 7½ years. On July 7, 2023, Sgt. Carney saved the life of an infant girl while on patrol near Russell Springs.
Traveling south on Highway 76, Carney noticed a vehicle behind him flashing their lights to get his attention. When they were stopped, two women in the car asked for help for a baby that was choking and unable to breathe. Carney performed back thrusts, then opened the infant's mouth and performed a finger-sweep, dislodging a hard object he felt at the back of the infant’s throat. He took the baby to his patrol vehicle to monitor her breathing and to keep her in air conditioning until EMS arrived.
Sgt. Wayne Wilson, the Law Enforcement public information officer who nominated Carney for the award, spoke with the mother after the incident, who said the outcome would have been tragic if not for Carney’s life-saving action.
"She was very emotional when trying to talk about what took place on that particular day, and is extremely grateful for the actions of Sgt. Carney,” Wilson said. “She told me ‘I'm so thankful. He saved my child's life.’”
Pictured (left to right): Law Enforcement Division Assistant Director Maj. David Marques, Sgt. Zack Carney, Commissioner Rich Storm, and Law Enforcement Division Assistant Director Maj. Greg Watts.
