Small Town News

Starnes Honored for Service

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Hogansville Police Officer Sgt. John Starnes was honored during Monday evening's council meeting for his military service in Afghanistan.

Starnes has served as a police officer in Hogansville since January 2002. This followed brief stints with the Troup County Sheriff's Office and Grantville Police Department.

In addition, Starnes has served 19 years with the National Guard, specifically with the 48th Infantry.

In April 2009, Starnes was called to active military status with his unit being deployed to Afghanistan. He returned to Hogansville in May 2010. This was his second military deployment.

While serving as a police officer, Starnes was the department's K9 officer and was often found training dogs. Starnes and his dog were responsible for a number of drug arrests and seizures.

This interest continued in Afghanistan with Starnes training dogs there, and that might well have saved his life and the lives of fellow soldiers.

Reports indicate that Starnes and a number of other soldiers were at a rest and rehabilitation building. Starnes and some of the soldiers were reportedly outside the building while others were inside the building.

Apparently an insurgent managed to gain entry into the camp and was entering that specific building when one of the dogs trained by Starnes alerted the soldiers to the presence of the stranger.

Unofficial reports indicate the insurgent was wearing explosives devices in a vest or as a vest. Apparently, when the dog alerted on him, the insurgent triggered the explosive charges.

While some of the soldiers were seriously injured in the explosion, the dog that Starnes had trained undoubtedly saved lives. Starnes was also injured in the explosion, suffering lacerations and injuries to his back.

Starnes has returned to his position with the Hogansville Police Department and is once again the K9 officer who not only works with the dogs, but trains them as well.



Copyright 2010 The Hogansville Home News, Hogansville, Georgia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Hogansville Home News Hogansville, Georgia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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