Extra Duty Hero Award: Officer Jeffrey Finley Acts Without Hesitation to Save a Teenager’s Life

At Extra Duty Solutions, we believe service does not end when the shift does.

That commitment was on full display when Officer Jeffrey Finley of the Anniston Police Department stepped in to help save the life of an injured teenager while off duty in Piedmont, Alabama.

For his quick thinking, courage, and willingness to act when someone needed help, Officer Finley has been selected as a recipient of the Extra Duty Hero Award.

An Officer Steps In

On July 20, 2026, Officer Finley was off duty when he noticed a young man slumped over inside a truck at a gas station in Piedmont. The 18-year-old had suffered a serious gunshot wound to his leg following an accidental discharge of a firearm.

Seeing that the teenager was bleeding heavily, Officer Finley immediately went to work.

With emergency medical personnel still on the way, he obtained a belt from a bystander and used part of a yard post as a makeshift windlass, creating an improvised tourniquet to control the bleeding.

His actions helped stabilize the teenager until Piedmont Fire Department and Piedmont Rescue Squad personnel arrived. The young man was later airlifted to an area hospital for additional treatment and was expected to recover.

Service Beyond the Uniform

Officer Finley’s response is a powerful example of the instinct to serve that defines so many members of law enforcement.

He was not on the clock. He was not responding to a dispatched call. But when someone’s life was in danger, he acted.

As Officer Finley said following the incident, when someone’s life is at risk, being in uniform or off duty does not change the responsibility to step in and help.

That sense of responsibility, combined with his training and composure under pressure, is why Extra Duty Solutions is proud to recognize Officer Jeffrey Finley with the Extra Duty Hero Award.

Recognizing Those Who Go Above and Beyond

The Extra Duty Hero Award (EDHA) honors law enforcement professionals whose actions outside their regular duties demonstrate extraordinary courage, compassion, leadership, and commitment to their communities.

Officer Finley’s actions in Piedmont exemplify exactly what this award represents.

Congratulations, Officer Finley, and thank you for demonstrating that service has no off switch.

Story details based on reporting from We Love Police and local sources. News article: https://welovepolice.org/article/off-duty-anniston-al-officer-saves-teenager-in-piedmont