Talbotton, Ga. (April 5, 2024)— Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Officer Jordan Connell with the Talbotton Police Department the organization’s First Friday Hero for the month of April.

Officer Connell was on his routine patrol when he spotted a car on the train tracks on Clark Street. The officer approached the car where he saw a woman in the driver’s seat and a child in the back seat. The car was stuck and couldn’t get off the tracks. A train was coming so he told the woman to exit the car and immediately pulled the child out of the back seat— getting them both to safety before the train crashed into the car.

A ceremony with Officer Connell and hospital leadership will be held on April 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Talbotton City Hall (at the beginning of the city council meeting) to commend him for his response. His story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.

Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in mid-2016 to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“Their line of work is often a thankless job and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make the Chattahoochee Valley a better and safer place,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill.