Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox is lauding the efforts of three members of his department who he says “greatly excelled in helping save human life.”

Cox says Deputy Matt Ahal was the first to arrive at an emergency medical call November 30 in a rural area of the county.

Ahal administered CPR until medical personnel arrived.

Cox thanked Deputy Ahal, the caller, the ambulance crew and other emergency medical care providers for an “outstanding job in working together to save human life.”

Deputy Sheriff/Jail Administrator Sandra Shermuly likely saved the life of an inmate who was trying to hang himself on Christmas night. Cox says Shermuly lifted the 160 pound man up to permit breathing until two male trustees arrived. The group worked together to cut the man down and restore his breathing. The inmate was cleared by medical professionals and has since been transferred to a different facility for treatment.

Sergeant Michael Claypole is also being credited with preventing a suicide. Claypole was dispatched to a location in the eastern part of the county December 26, to the report of a man armed with a knife and suicidal. Claypole confronted the uncooperative individual, and in Cox’es words, “used minimal force in taking the person into custody and potentially saving his life.