A Stephenville Police Officer and Erath County Deputy recently received lifesaving awards after saving a victim following a violent crime.
Stephenville K-9 Officer Colby Stone and Erath County Sheriff’s Deputy Taylor Tully were presented with their awards Tuesday, May 6 by Police Chief Dan Harris and Erath County Sheriff Matt Coates.
Chief Harris gave audience members details of the incident which occurred March 23, 2025 around 1 a.m.
Deputy Tully was dispatched to a stabbing in progress on CR 461 just outside the city limits of Stephenville off of FM 8.
“Officer Stone responded to assist her due to the critical nature of this call,” Harris said.
Upon arriving at the scene Officer Stone observed Deputy Tully administering CPR to an unresponsive male victim.
The victim had sustained multiple lacerations and puncture wounds on his body, including wounds on both of his legs.
As Deputy Tully continued CPR Officer Stone immediately applied a tourniquet to each of the victim’s legs to control the profuse bleeding.
“The suspect’s location was unknown at this particular moment making the scene unsecure. Yet these two law enforcement officers did not hesitate to administer life saving techniques to save this victim,” Chief Harris said.
While administering aid, Officer Stone communicated with dispatch via radio that the suspect may have been on foot in close proximity.
Additional assistance was requested including a law enforcement drone.
He also advised dispatch to begin coordinating a medical evac Life flight.
During this same period, Deputy Tully was continuing to perform CPR. Once the tourniquets were applied Deputy Tully and Officer Stone assessed the victim’s status.
They determined the victim was now breathing and detected a shallow pulse.
They further assessed the victim for additional injuries and identified a deep puncture wound to his chest.
The law enforcement officers utilized gauze from their medical kits to apply pressure to the wound.
It was then determined the suspect fled in a vehicle and therefore the scene was rendered safe for medical personnel to enter.
“For just under 10 minutes, Deputy Tully and Officer Stone maintained uninterrupted medical care until Erath County EMS and Stephenville Fire Department EMS were able to assume care,” Harris said.
Part of that care was through the Critical Care program which now has the ability to administer whole blood, which aided this victim greatly until he was flown to Fort Worth for advanced care.
“Erath County EMS and Stephenville Fire Department Paramedics advised the actions of these two – Officer Stone and Deputy Tully – saved the victim’s life. Without their immediate and timely intervention, the administration of tourniquets and CPR, the victim’s chances of survival would have been significantly diminished,” he said. “Both, immediately and without hesitation, placed themselves in harm’s way to save this victim’s life. Their heroic actions truly exemplify the top-notch professionalism of the men and women of both the Erath County Sheriff’s Department and the Stephenville Police Department, and our entire law enforcement profession.”
Both have also received the same joint award from the Erath County Sheriff’s Office.