Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Greg Agar has a unique way of coping with stress: by giving back to those whose suffering he encounters on the job.
The nine-year veteran of the sheriff’s office said that helping someone who’s lost a loved one or experienced hardship helps his mental health, too.
That outlook recently won him recognition from his colleagues. At the sheriff’s office’s annual awards ceremony Feb. 27, Agar received five awards: a medal of merit, two life-saving awards, a life-saving medal and an exemplary service award.
Agar said he’s just doing what his parents taught him to — help others. He entered law enforcement after serving in the U.S. Army.
“Law enforcement helps people in the community, and obviously, I want to serve the community in which I live,” Agar said.
Agar received the medal of merit for apprehending armed robbery suspects in March 2023. He pursued four people driving 130 mph north on Interstate 5 after allegedly committing an armed robbery at a Walnut Grove-area cannabis store.
Once he was able maneuver his patrol SUV to knock the fleeing car sideways, and another deputy blocked the suspect’s car, they were able to immediately arrest three of the occupants. One of the teens leapt through the car’s window and ran. But that suspect, too, was quickly arrested.
“It was a major undertaking to get all four of these guys in custody, all within minutes of each other,” sheriff’s Cmdr. Tim Bieber said.
Despite the danger of speeding, navigating traffic and colliding with the suspects’ car, Agar said he remained focused on stopping the danger the suspects posed to the community.
“I knew that these suspects had committed an armed robbery, which is an extremely dangerous crime,” Agar said. “ The suspects needed to get captured.”
Agar has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and he’s skilled enough to make a big difference when it counts, Bieber said.
Agar is a mellow guy, Bieber noted, which helps him remain calm and get everyone organized in chaotic situations.
Beyond risking his own safety for the sake of the community, Agar has also earned a reputation for the kind things he does in his down time between calls.
Two people were killed in a vehicle versus motorcycle crash Dec. 21 in the Five Corners area, including a mother who had her two children in the backseat. Agar and his fellow deputies bought the family new car seats to replace those damaged in the crash. Deputies had to collect one of the children’s shoes for evidence, so they bought new ones. And because it was days before Christmas, they bought the family $1,000 worth of presents. Agar coordinated the purchases.
“That incident, in particular, is very traumatic for anybody, but especially young children,” Agar said. “We all kind of had the same goal and the same mindset of wanting to do more for the children, and the family in general, and try to turn it into a positive thing that they could associate with such a terrible incident.”
In the January snow and ice storm, Agar was one of two sergeants who went to a hardware store and helped an elderly man put insulation on his pipes because he was concerned they’d burst in the freeze.
Bieber said those incidents are examples of Agar’s character.
“His heart is in the right place, and he just has tremendous work ethic. He’s very deserving of all the awards he received,” Bieber said. “He’s just kind of that all around good guy.”
Agar’s training as a medic has also been a tremendous asset for his team, and it earned him several of his recent awards.
“Every medical intervention that we potentially give to somebody can make a difference, whether it’s saving their life, or whether it’s an 8-year-old kid that’s asking for a Band-Aid and we can bring a positive interaction to that,” Agar said. “I take it very seriously.”
As much as Agar loves to interact with the community, he said his fellow first responders also make his job worth doing.
“Clark County has some of the finest law enforcement and first responders around, in my opinion,” he said. “That sense of teamwork and belonging is really fulfilling to me.”
