DeLand Police Department Sergeant Tony Tagle has been awarded the department's Medal of Valor and Lifesaving Award for rescuing a child struggling to swim near the New Smyrna Beach jetty in April. The Medal of Valor is the department's second-highest honor.

Sergeant Tagle was off-duty and fishing from the jetty when two young children began to struggle in the rough surf nearby. Without hesitation, Sergeant Tagle jumped into the water to assist one of the children safely back to the jetty while another beachgoer assisted the second child. Without Sergeant Tagle's brave actions that day, the children could have drowned. While presenting the award, Chief Umberger stated that Sergeant Tagle, "showed exceptional courage while saving a life, and it shows that we have public servants that are willing to risk their lives for others even when they are off-duty." 

Sergeant Tagle has worked for the DeLand Police Department since 2014.