2 winners of 2010 Artz award

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Two local officers receive an award Thursday for their heroic actions.

The awards were handed out at a Breakfast Optimist Club meeting in Terre Haute.

The 2010 Kevin Artz Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award was given to two officers, Indiana State Police Sergeant Joe Watts and Terre Haute Police Corporal Larry Manley.

The two received the honor for their quick responses to a stabbing and attempted child abduction in Prairie Creek, Indiana in June.

They were the first officers on the scene and helped keep a bad situation from getting much worse.

"We were able to make entry into the house and get the woman taken into custody, and get some help for the family members that got stabbed," Cpl. Larry Manley with the Terre Haute Police Department said.

"I'm forever grateful that the Speer family has been put back to tact and everything can move forward in a positive way," Sgt. Joe Watts with the Indiana State Police said.

The award is named after former Vigo County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Artz. Artz died in the line of duty in 1987.