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Deputy honored for courage under fire

Jeffrey Esterline is Deputy of the Year for his actions confronting a man with a rifle.

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published May 6, 2005

CLEARWATER - Crouching behind his cruiser, Deputy Jeffrey Esterline said he heard the voices of the people who had trained him.

Move!

So he did, then he hunkered behind another squad car a little farther away. It was 9:30 p.m., Sept. 1, 2004.

Matthew T. Kitchen, 24, sprayed bullets, firing a rifle seven times at Esterline and another deputy, according to Pinellas sheriff's officials. They had responded after Kitchen's girlfriend called 911, saying he had beaten her.

Esterline squeezed off two rounds in response, hitting Kitchen in the right forearm and right little finger, sheriff's officials said. Kitchen then went back into his home and killed himself with a shot to the head.

For his courage under fire, Esterline, 43, was honored Thursday as the Ruth and Tim Johnson Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year by the Pinellas County Council of Mayors. He also received the agency's Combat Cross.

"It's a tremendous honor, but really I was only one of dozen deputies there," the 17-year veteran said.

Among the other honorees Thursday:

Deputy Jennifer Davis as Detention Deputy of the Year.

Clancy R. Stransky as the Forensic Science Specialist of the Year.

Meredith A. Moran as Reserve Deputy of the Year.

Cpl. Thomas R. Akin, Cpl. David V. Antolini, Deputy John R. Bradshaw, Cpl. William L. Byrd, Deputy Nelson A. DeLeon, Sgt. Raymond J. Fleming, Deputy Eric F. Gibson, Lt. William J. Hagans, Sgt. Thomas A. Mevers, Detective Mike L. Nawrocki, Capt. Michael G. Platt, Cpl. Christopher H. Taylor, Deputy Shawn M. Walsh and Deputy Amy K. Zawadski with the Exceptional Service Award.

[Last modified May 6, 2005, 12:35:33]