At the first Public Safety Commission (PSC) meeting of 2025, held at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Headquarters in Austin, Trooper George Greenway IV of Sulphur Springs was recognized for his heroic actions during a life-threatening rescue. He was awarded the prestigious Lifesaving Award for his quick and decisive response to a dangerous situation on September 5, 2024, in El Paso.
During Operation Lone Star, Trooper Greenway was on patrol when he heard a woman's scream. Shortly afterward, he received a notification about a female subject who had been swept into a nearby canal by rushing waters. Without hesitation, Trooper Greenway drove to a culvert area known for previous drowning incidents, where he heard the woman’s cries for help. Spotting her clinging to a cable approximately 50 feet from the culvert, he immediately realized that her grip was slipping and that she would not survive if she fell into the canal.
Trooper Greenway removed his belt and rushed into the water, grabbing the cable to reach the woman. Upon reaching her, he found she was unresponsive, with visible chest injuries and a compound fracture of her wrist. In a remarkable act of bravery, Trooper Greenway used his own body to stabilize her, locking his legs around her and holding on to the cable with his ankles. He then slowly worked his way to a rebar step along the canal wall, inching both himself and the woman up to safety.
After securing the woman away from the edge of the canal, Trooper Greenway waited until National Guard soldiers and medical personnel arrived on the scene. The woman was transported to a local hospital, where she received medical treatment.
Colonel Freeman F. Martin of DPS, along with PSC Commissioners, presented Trooper Greenway with the Lifesaving Award, acknowledging his selflessness and courage in saving a life. His quick thinking and determined actions were crucial in preventing a tragedy and exemplify the dedication and bravery that are the hallmark of DPS officers.
