Sheriff Crawford and Captain Drake of the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office traveled to Marion County on Wednesday evening to recognize the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Ocala Police Department for their assistance during the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
Shortly after Hurricane Ian moved across Florida, the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office stated that an “extreme number of rescue calls” were received from residents in the area due to damage and flooding that was caused by the storm. At the time, most roadways were deemed unsafe to travel due to flooding and weak infrastructure.
A multi-agency response team including law enforcement officers from MCSO and OPD arrived in Hardee County on September 30 to assist with search and rescue efforts. Upon arrival, members of the response team sprang into action to help with security and conduct search and rescue missions in the area.
On Wednesday, December 14, Hardee County Sheriff Crawford and Captain Drake visited the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to present the Distinguished Service Award to Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken in recognition of their efforts to assist with search and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the hurricane.
On its Facebook page, the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office stated, “We will forever be grateful for the resources sent by Sheriff Billy Woods and Chief Mike Balken and the service of our fellow brothers and sisters during our time of need.”