DENVER — Several Denver County Sheriff deputies were awarded the Medal of Valor Thursday for their role in capturing an inmate who attempted to escape in early September.
On Sept. 2. Damian Lynch, 24, was in the process of being transferred from the Downtown Detention Center to the Denver County Jail when he was accused of trying to escape by hiding under a Sheriff Department transport vehicle and fleeing into a drainage tunnel at about 9:45 a.m. that day, according to a Denver Police Department (DPD) probable cause statement.
The deputies who were honored chased the inmate into a water tunnel next to the Cherry Creek bike path and were able to take Lynch back into custody.
“After several heart-wrenching minutes, they emerged with the attempted escapee back in the custody of the Denver Sheriff Department,” Denver County Sheriff Elias Diggins said. “Their actions were swift, courageous and selfless in the face of unknown danger. For these valiant acts, they are herby each awarded the Denver Sheriff Department Valor of Honor.
The deputies received their Medals of Valor during a ceremony at the Downtown Detention Center at 490 W. Colfax Ave.
Four other deputies involved in that incident are part of an open investigation for their role in what happened, the Department of Public Safety said in September.
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