Liberty County Sheriff’s Office deputies are among the honorees being recognized this year by The 100 Club during its 72nd Annual Heroes Awards Banquet for extraordinary acts of courage and public service.
Corporal Katrena Johnston and Deputies Damon Collier, Kamri Kellum, Bryan Scott and David Wolfe were selected for recognition following a dramatic July 11, 2025, rescue in which they saved a woman trapped inside an overturned vehicle submerged in the Trinity River.
The incident began after a vehicle pursuit ended with the suspect’s car upside down and partially submerged down a steep embankment into the Trinity River near Romayor. The female driver remained trapped inside the vehicle.
The deputies immediately began rescue efforts despite dangerous conditions. Authorities said the deputies broke windows, pried open the vehicle’s doors and rescued both the woman and her service dog from the submerged vehicle.
Investigators believed the woman had consumed narcotics and was suffering from an overdose, prompting deputies to administer Narcan as part of their life-saving efforts.
At the time of the incident, Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader said, ““I know that there are many times that LCSO deputies do good things. They are very seldom recognized for the good things they do. There are times when they do things that people do not agree with. When that happens, social media and word of mouth are quick to condemn their actions. These deputies, at night, ran and jumped down an embankment that was at least 20 feet to the bottom. The deputies had no clue what the hazards might be below. They knew that help was needed and they did not hesitate to go in the river and save the person who was evading a traffic stop. They also saved a dog that was in the vehicle. I really appreciate the dedication that each one of them have. They all took an oath to protect and serve. On this dark night, they did not hesitate to jump off an embankment into the river to rescue a person who needed help.”
Two Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputies are also among this year’s recipients.
Deputy Luis J. Betancourt was selected as Rookie of the Year after facing multiple life-threatening incidents during his first year on patrol, including a high-speed pursuit, performing CPR on a cardiac arrest victim and responding to a shooting scene.
Detective Jason Prince was named Officer of the Year for his role in securing one of Texas’ first murder convictions under new fentanyl laws. According to award organizers, Prince’s investigation tied a fatal overdose to its source and helped establish a legal precedent for future narcotics prosecutions.
The 100 Club will honor 49 peace officers and firefighters from across its 18-county coverage area, along with select statewide agencies, during the May 19 banquet at Bayou City Event Center in Houston. A reception will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by the awards program at 7 p.m.
Founded in 1953, The 100 Club is a citizen-funded nonprofit organization that provides immediate financial assistance to families of peace officers and firefighters killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. The organization also helps provide life-protecting equipment to local agencies and replaces service animals injured or killed in the line of duty.