Deputy Allen Gerhardt; photo courtesy: Niagara County Sheriff's Department
LOCKPORT, NY -- A high honor for two local sheriff's deputies for actions they took to save a collegues life last year.
Niagara County Sheriff's Deputies Sean Grapes and Jonathan Andres were named "Deputies of the Year" by the New York State Sheriff's Association for 2011.
Both men played major, lifesaving roles in last summer's accident in which their fellow deputy, Allen Gerhardt, lost both legs when he lost control of his vehicle during a chase, and hit a guardrail that severed both of his legs.
Gerhardt has made a full recovery and has said he hopes to return to work.