Two Caddo Parish sheriff’s deputies were honored for their bravery and service by a statewide civic group and will soon be recognized on a national level, said Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator.

Deputy Adam Jones was chosen as the 40&8 Association’s Officer of the Year and Senior Deputy Robert Fertal was selected as Hero of the Year during the group’s Louisiana Grand Promenade on July 16 at the Hotel Bentley in Alexandria.

Deputy Jones was recognized for his assistance with numerous criminal investigations over the years while serving as a deputy with the Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office and later with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, where he is currently employed. The cases included the investigation of a Mansfield police officer arrested for illegal drug use and sales, the rescue of a kidnap victim in Bossier Parish, and assisting with the arrests of 93 homicide suspects in 2022 while serving as the Caddo Sheriff’s agent on the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force.

Deputy Fertal was filling in as a school resource officer at Byrd High School in May 2022 when he was called to a classroom for a medical emergency. When he arrived, he found an unresponsive student who had choked on some food and was lying on the floor. Fertal performed the Heimlich Maneuver, and when that was unsuccessful, he administered CPR, saving the student’s life.

The two will head to Sandusky, Ohio, on September 15 to be honored as the national winners in their respective categories. The 40&8 will present the awards at the 104th Promenade Nationale.

Jones is a native of Coushatta and the son of Bill and Laurie Jones. He is a 2002 graduate of Riverdale Academy and 2006 graduate of LSU.

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