Columbus, Ga. (June 7, 2024) — Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Reserve Officer Christopher Villanueva and Cpl. Reginald Gordy with the Columbus Police Department the organization’s First Friday Heroes for the month of June.

Reserve Officer Villanueva and Cpl. Gordy were traveling on North Lumpkin Road in January when a female driver was having a seizure and crossed over onto their side of the road– hitting the officers head-on. They got out of their car and provided first aid to the woman (who was still seizing) by rolling her onto her side until EMS arrived on-scene.

A ceremony with Villanueva and Gordy and hospital leadership will be held on June 7 at 8:30 a.m. at the Public Safety Building in the Community Room to commend them for their response. Their story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.

Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in mid-2016 to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“Their line of work is often a thankless job and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make the Chattahoochee Valley a better and safer place,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill.