Colquitt County first responders compete in annual fundraising shooting competition

Jessi Flowers, The Moultrie Observer, Ga.
·3 min read

Oct. 26—MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County Sheriff's Office won the first place prize of $5,000 in the department competition during the 4th Annual Moultrie First Responder Association Shooting Competition held on Saturday morning.

The three officers competing on the team were Ronald Jordan, Justin Searcy and Rod Howell.

In addition to the CCSO, the Moultrie Police Department, Emergency Medical Services and Moultrie Fire Department also had teams participating.

"This is a fundraising event that was founded during the height of COVID to help boost morale and bring some money back into the department that had been lost because of the pandemic," said Dennis Futch, one of the founders of the fundraiser. "It helps the departments pay for things they might not otherwise be able to have funding for."

Prior to the competition, first responders went out to the community, this year raising $48,000, with $8,000 in-kind for the prizes.

Eric Butler with the EMS, was awarded an MP5 9mm modified pistol for the highest fundraising amount presented by a single responder in the history of this event.

EMS's Dustin Hart, CCSO's Searcy and MFD's Brian Blair were also given prizes for the amount of their fundraising contributions.

There was also a separate pistol shooting competition open for any first responder who wasn't on a team, as well as a bosses challenge.

"Most people support what we do," said Futch. "It's great to have the community support and I believe it's great for the officers to be able to interact with each other outside high stress situations."

During the team competition, each member had to shoot with a pistol, rifle and shotgun.

Coming in nine points behind the CCSO was the MFD. Brian Blair, Daniel Morrison and Josh Gay were the first responders who won $2,500 for their department.

Christopher Woods, Steven Exum and Jeriah Ruiz made up the team for the MPD, while the EMS shooters were Jimmy Fletcher, Butler and Walt Brown.

Several dozen first responders participated in the individual shooting competition.

Clayton Godwin with the CCSO won the $750 first place prize after shooting 7 hits in 8.67 seconds on a 40-yard torso target with the ELI Drill.

MFD's Russell Swartz followed with second place and Jim Sellers from the CCSO took third.

Finally, was the bosses competition, which was battled between CCSO's Sheriff Rod Howell, EMS's Dustin Hart, MFD's Josh Morrison and MPD's Steve Exum.

Morrison won the event, winning a Taurus Judge .45/.410 revolver.

In addition to the team and department prizes, individual prizes were also distributed.

Jordan with the CCSO was the highest overall shooter and received $1,500 and a 1911 Riptide C 10mm pistol.

MFD's Blair was presented with a PSA Dagger 9mm pistol for second place overall and EMS's Butler won third place, winning an AL MAR Sere practical knife.

"This was the first year we also gave checks and prizes to each first responder who participated," said Futch. "We felt that was important because they work so hard to protect this community and deserve to be recognized."