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 substantial cash award.

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 Fire and Police 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 second year its "200 Club Valor Award" to Chief Jason Waterfield and Deputy Chief Scott Kimball of Savannah's Southside Fire Department and Star Corporal Donald Bryant of Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department at their annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. on February 20th at the Savannah Golf Club. 

February 20, 2008 (Savannah, Georgia) —Chief Jason Waterfield and Deputy Chief Scott Kimball of Savannah's Southside Fire Department and Star Corporal Donald Bryant of 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 tonight during a Color 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.  Star Corporal Bryant will receive a $5,000 check and Chief Waterfield and Deputy Kimball will each receive a $2,500 check.

Chief Jason Waterfield and Deputy Chief Scott Kimball receive their award for actions taken on October 6, 2007 that saved the lives of three teenagers.

Chief Waterfield and Deputy Chief Kimball were traveling on Maryland Highway 340 en route to the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service on October 6, 2007.  Suddenly they witnessed a cloud of dust and other vehicles taking evasive action away from a single overturned vehicle on the side of the highway.  The vehicle had overturned causing the roof to collapse and entrapping three teenage passengers. Armed with nothing but a cell phone and red lights, they both began to rescue with no hose line in place for safety, gas and oil leaking, no rescue equipment and with complete disregard for their own safety from possible explosion.  

They blocked the road with Southside Fire Department's car-4 and called 911 for back-up and rescue equipment.  They were able to remove two of the teenagers from the vehicle.  However, the third passenger's leg was entangled in the brake and gas pedals and his arm was under the vehicle.

While Deputy Chief Kimball stayed wit the third victim keeping him calm and protected, Chief Waterfield maintained control of the scene, the public and traffic, until rescue units arrived a few minutes later.

The teen was airlifted to the hospital and the other two teens transported by ground ambulance.

Star Corporal Donald Bryan receives his award for stopping a robbery in progress on July 14, 2007 with a dangerous, armed criminal and potentially saved the lives of innocent civilians.

Star Corporal Bryan was working an off-duty assignment in uniform at Popeye's Restaurant located at 2060 East Victory Drive. Shortly after 10 p.m., he noticed an individual walking in the restaurant immediately before closing. He observed the individual enter the restrooms but did not see the suspect come out. He went into the restaurant to check and found the suspect concealed in the bathroom armed with a handgun and putting on a mask clearly about to commit an armed robbery.

Star Corporal Bryan and the suspect engaged in hand-to-hand combat over the gun, a fight that spilled out of the restroom and into the hallway.  The suspect managed to fire his pistol at Star Corporal Bryan but fortunately did not strike him. Star Corporal Bryan disengaged from the suspect, drew his weapon and returned fire striking the suspect several times. The suspect attempted to flee the restaurant ultimately collapsing in the back parking lot where he was taken into custody.