The 200 Club Valor Award

Created by recommendation of the Board of Directors and approved by the Members in March of 2006, the 200 Club Valor Award may be given yearly to a Law Enforcement Officer and a Firefighter from the 200 Club's 20 County operating region.

The recipients are chosen by the awards committee which is comprised of Law Enforcement and Fire command Officers, not by the 200 Club of the Coastal Empire.

Therefore, because of the stringent standards imposed by those peers, there might be times when the Valor Award will not be given. The award consists of a "Book Plaque", a metal with campaign bar and a separate gift.

It is worthy of note that ours is the only Civilian Metal and Campaign Bar authorized by the departments within the Club's jurisdiction to be worn on the recipient's uniform.

Press Release

The 200 Hundred Club Salutes Police and Fire Department Heroes from the Coastal Empire for Acts of Valor at Annual Membership Meeting

The 200 Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire presents for the sixth year its "200 Club Valor Award" to Lieutenant Paramedic Kevin Osterstock, Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue; Firefighter EMT Tim Huser, Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue and Officer Chris Tucker, Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department at its annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 16th at the Charles H. Morris Center.

February 10, 2011 (Savannah, Georgia)- Lieutenant Paramedic Kevin Osterstock, Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue; Firefighter EMT Tim Huser, Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue and Officer Chris Tucker, Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department have been selected by a committee of Law Enforcement and Fire Command Officers from nominations from all 20 counties supported by The 200 Club of the Coastal Empire. They will be honored the evening of February 16^th at the Charles H. Morris Center during an Honor Guard ceremony for acts of valor at The 200 Club of the Coastal Empire's annual meeting.

The award recipients will be given a plaque and a medal of valor. They will separately receive a gift of $10,000.

"On December 14^th, 2010 Lt. Paramedic Kevin Osterstock and Firefighter EMT Tim Huser were among the multiple Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue emergency crews that responded to a residence fire on Hilton Head Island. Fire had spread throughout a significant portion of the home including the attic. A propane tank behind the home was venting propane, producing a large propane torch-like fire that was projecting into the home.

Firefighters were informed that the family was out of town. Based on this and the intensity and rapid spread of the fire, all firefighting operations were conducted from the exterior. Suddenly, Lt. Osterstock was informed by a security officer that he was on the phone with a female who was trapped inside the structure. Lt. Osterstock immediately notified the incident commander and he and FF Huser forced open the front door.

Persistent in their search through the heavy black smoke with virtually no visibility, Lt. Osterstock and FF Huser moved toward the faint sounds made by the victim. Lt. Osterstock located her in the rear of the home directly under the heaviest area of fire. With FF Huser's assistance, she was successfully removed from the burning structure, treated, and transported to Hilton Head Hospital."

Lt. Paramedic Kevin Osterstock and FF EMT Tim Huser made a split second decision to enter the structure which had already been deemed unsafe. Keeping calm and professional, they began an effort that resulted in the saving of a young woman's life. The young woman fully recovered and returned to her teaching profession at a local elementary school. The courage and well thought out rescue shows their commitment in keeping with the highest principals of the firefighting profession and Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue.

"On July 24, 2010 at approximately 9:20 p.m., SCMPD Officer Chris Tucker was assisting Thunderbolt police at a safety checkpoint when a passenger in a Ford F-250 forcefully took control of the vehicle from the driver/owner and failed to stop. Tucker followed the truck and activated his blue lights. The Ford took off and fish tailed as it turned from Shirley to Mason Drives. The Ford then slammed into a fire hydrant as it tried to turn from Mason Drive to Lorraine Drive and came to rest in a front yard at the northeast corner of the intersection. The driver refused Tucker's commands to stop, and began to open fire at the Officer as he took flight on foot. Officer Tucker returned fire and took cover. Officer Tucker's TASER, which was strapped to his belt, was struck by a bullet during the exchange. Uninjured, Officer Tucker continued chasing the suspect on foot, but lost sight of him near the intersection of Pinetree and Skidaway roads. Officer Tucker informed officers what just occurred and began advising responding officers to locations to establish a grid to lock down the area.

Shortly after the chase, the suspect arrived at Memorial Hospital in a private vehicle with a gunshot wound to the chest. A weapon, along with illegal drugs, was also recovered at the scene."

About the 200 Club of Coastal Empire

The principal objective of The 200 Club is to provide immediate financial assistance to the surviving spouse and children of local law enforcement officers and firefighters who lose their lives in the line-of-duty while protecting their communities.

The Two Hundred Club of the Coastal Empire was incorporated on October 16, 2000 as a Georgia nonprofit charitable organization 501(c)(3). The board consists of members of the business, law enforcement, judicial, professional, religious and academic communities. The Two Hundred Club is a significant vehicle for expressing community gratitude to the families of our fallen heroes.