Holly MatkinJasper, GA – Forsyth County Sheriff’s Deputy Spencer Englett died on April 4, when he suffered a traumatic medical event during a training session.
The incident occurred during the 29-year-old deputy’s first day of training at the Pickens County division of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, WXIA reported.
“He simply collapsed during a physical training scenario,” Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman said. “We don’t know what that was, whether it was a cardio issue or some other medical issue. It does appear to be a medical issue induced from that training scenario.”
Deputy Englett was rushed to the Piedmont Mountainside Medical Center, but medical personnel were unable to revive him, the Forsyth County News reported.
Deputy Englett previously worked for the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office for a total of six years, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
He was hired by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) in May of 2017, WXIA reported.
“He had passed our medical exam and our physical exam. He passed our physical agility test, and he had passed some state-mandated things to get into the police academy which includes a physical. And none of those indicated any reason he could not continue in that process,” Sheriff Freeman said.
Deputy Englett cared strongly about others, and quickly established himself as a standout law enforcement officer.
Sheriff Freeman described Deputy Englett as a “small-town South Georgia boy.”
“[He was] one of the biggest-hearted young men that I’ve hired here,” the sheriff noted. “He is a stellar deputy who had done tremendous work here. It is absolutely tragic. He was selected over many of his peers to attend the law enforcement academy, and that’s a testament to his work, his work ethic, and his work ability.”
Deputy Englett and his wife, Ashley, were just recently married, the Cumming Patch reported.
“He was an exemplary deputy who served Forsyth County with distinction and honor,” the FCSO said in a press release, according to the Forsyth County News. “We ask all to keep Deputy Englett’s wife and family, as well as the FCSO family, in your prayers during this difficult time.”
In addition to his wife, Deputy Englett is also survived by his mother, sister, grandfather, and nephew, according to his obituary.
He will be laid to rest on Tuesday.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Forsyth County Sheriff’s Deputy Spencer Englett, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.