Detective Lou Lizzette Williams Honored for Bravery beyond the call of duty.

Hero: Lou Lizzette
By: Clarice Drexler, Orlando, FL

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund honored Detective Lou Lizzette (Liz) Williams for heroic actions.  On January 23, 1999 a team of international skydivers took off from the local airport, despite inclement weather warnings planning to jump onto the Flagler Beach sands.  Due to miscalculations, four of them landed in the ocean. Martin Barnette of England and Barbara Palmieri of Italy were trapped in the icy four to six foot ocean waves with a northern current registering up to 15 knots.  Officer Liz Williams and Deputy Sheriff Matt Long were dispatched to the scene. Barnette’s  parachute was tangled around him, and the pier,  keeping him completely submerged while the currents slammed him into the pier stanchions. Officer Williams' and Deputy Long's efforts to reach Barnett were hampered by the rough seas  After being pulled under twice  herself, Officer Williams eventually reached the drowning man, cut away his parachute and with the assistance of Deputy Long, brought him to shore. Unresponsive and suffering from severe hypothermia, Barnett was taken to a nearby hospital.

Officer Williams then directed her attention to Barbara Palmieri, the second diver still in the water north of the pier. She too was safety brought to shore, due to Officer William’s efforts.  Although neither victim had been wearing a floatation device, both fully recovered from their injuries.

The then Chief of Flagler Beach Police Mike Plummer said  "Officer Williams did an outstanding job on that cold morning. Her dedication to duty and the community shows how true a professional law enforcement officer she is."  Promoted to Detective in early 2002, she developed and coordinates the Victim Advocate Program in her community.