Three Franklin Co. deputies recognized statewide for lifesaving actions

Named Officers of the Year by the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council

(BROOKVILLE, Ind.) – Three Franklin County deputies are being recognized statewide for their heroic actions in December 2022. 

Sergeant Kyle Hartman, Deputy Arin Bowers, and Deputy Tyler Ford have been named Officers of the Year by the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council (IPAC). 

They were nominated for the prestigious award based on their actions during an extremely dangerous situation. 

These were the deputies that responded during a snowstorm to Gregory Guilfoyle, who shot his wife before he began walking down State Road 1.

He was holding his 23-month-old daughter in bitter subzero temperatures when Deputy Bowers found him walking along the road.

When Bowers attempted to speak with him, Guilfoyle pulled a gun and shot at Bowers. One bullet his the officer's body armor which protected him from serious injury.

Bower returned fine and struck Guilfoyle who was wounded and taken to the hospital.

The young child was not hurt during the incident.

RELATED: Watch dash cam video of the incident between Guilfoyle and Bowers by clicking here or the media player below:

Sergeant Hartman and Deputy Ford are credited with assisting the wife and keeping her alive following her being shot. 

She spent eight weeks in a hospital with critical injuries, including a brain injury.

“Sergeant Hartman, Deputy Bowers, and Deputy Ford demonstrated quick, decisive, and courageous action in a rapidly evolving and dangerous situation. Their actions directly stopped a threat and saved the lives of both a small child and Hanna Guilfoyle,” Franklin County Major Greg Mehlbauer said. 

They were recommended for the IPAC Award by Franklin County Prosecutor Chris Huerkamp. 

In addition to this honor, Deputy Arin Bowers was also selected as the 2025 Indiana FOP Officer of the Year, and all three deputies have received the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Medal of Valor.

“The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department extends its sincere appreciation to Prosecutor Christopher Huerkamp and IPAC for this prestigious recognition and for honoring the outstanding service of these deputies,” said Sheriff Peter Cates. 

Guilfoyle was sentenced to 100 years in prison earlier this year. 

Pictured above from left to right are Sheriff Cates, Franklin County Prosecutor Christopher Huerkamp, Deputy Arin Bowers, Deputy Tyler Ford, Sergeant Kyle Hartman, and Major Gregory Mehlbauer.