GAINEVILLE - Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Louie Christian Tempel is this year's winner of the Safety Officer of the Year Award. <br>
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The award was presented Saturday night by the Gainesville Elks Lodge Past Exatled Rulers Association. <br>
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It is given each year to recognize service provided to the local community. <br>
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Templ was cited for his "quick action" and "cool response" last year when he was fired upon by a man he was questioning at Clark's Bridge Park who was threatening a woman in his car with him. Tempel killed the man. <br>
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Hall County firemen Tim Roper and Skip Helfin and Gainesville firemen Darren Chandler and Dale Yarek were also honored for their work in rescuing an injured worker from atop a 200-foot cell tower last May.
