A deputy with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office recently received a prestigious award from the Georgia Sheriff’s Association for his bravery in a life-threatening situation.
Lt. Travis Walker received the GSA Award of Valor July 1 for “displaying extraordinary courage and selflessly acting to save the life of a fellow deputy.” The incident relating to the award took place May 16, 2025.
Members of the Jones County Sheriff’s Office traveled to Madison July 1 to attend the annual awards ceremony.
Information on the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association website states the Award of Valor honors full-time sworn deputies who demonstrate exceptional bravery and selflessness in the line of duty, often by risking their own safety to protect human life.
Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece said Walker is certainly deserving of the award.
“He is outstanding at everything he does,” Reece said. “He’s an outstanding officer, gentleman and father.”
The sheriff went on to say he is sad Walker was forced into that situation.
“We, of course, are sorry it happened, but we are glad he was there. I honestly believe Lt. Walker saved a deputy’s life,” he said. In a July 13 phone interview, Walker said the award was definitely a surprise and very appreciated.
“Of course, I feel bad about the circumstances, but I also understand that lives were saved that day. I am grateful and I thank God,” the lieutenant said.
May 16, 2025
A News article about the shooting stated that dash and body cam videos of the May 16 shooting played an essential role in the investigation, according to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, who was called on to investigate the case.
Reece said having another agency investigate the officer-involved shooting was a step taken to demonstrate a fair and unbiased investigation is done.
Ronald R. Evans, 54, was pronounced deceased at 2 a.m. May 16, by Deputy Coroner Stacy Gardner with the cause of death listed as multiple gunshot wounds.
The time of the shooting was estimated at 1:30 a.m.
At a press conference held by Sills later that afternoon, he said he was called at 2:12 a.m. by JCSO Chief Deputy Earl Humphries requesting him to investigate the shooting.
The names of the officers involved were not released at the press conference but were released by Reece later that day.
Walker was the officer who encountered Evans at the South Recreation Center on Highway 49 about 1:20 a.m. Sills said the incident started when the deputy noticed a jeep driving slowly in the recreation park. The jeep had no doors, and the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.
The sheriff said when the deputy made contact with the driver, he became belligerent. Evans questioned the officer’s authority and if he was a “sworn officer.”
When asked for a license, the driver took off. During a short and low-speed pursuit, Evans stopped abruptly, appearing to try to make Walker run into him. The driver then made a sharp turn into C&J’s Market and stopped near the front door of the store.
A second officer, JCSO Deputy Richard Langston, was a short distance away, preparing to put down spike strips at Highway 49 and Joycliff Road. When Langston saw the vehicles pull into the store’s parking lot, he started toward them.
Sills said the driver of the jeep got out and pointed a weapon at the deputy coming toward him. Walker opened fire, striking the driver multiple times.
Sills said Evans had a criminal record in Florida and Georgia for multiple drug charges and battery. He said the autopsy and maybe some forensics would be done by the GBI. He also said Evans’ family members had indicated he has had mental health issues.
Sills stated the individual was armed with a gun and ready to shoot a deputy.
The sheriff said this investigation was no different than any other death investigation and should be handled thoroughly. Sills’ investigation included reviewing the scene of the shooting and body cam and dash cam videos of the officers involved.
His conclusion was he saw nothing at all improper here at all and it was a wonder there was not another deputy sheriff killed.
Reece said the results of the investigation had been given to District Attorney Wright Barksdale.
The sheriff said Walker was not at work that day due to his regular schedule rotation, but he would not be placed on administrative leave. Reece indicated it would be up to the officer, but if he did want time off, he could have whatever he needs.
