Columbus, Ga. (February 6, 2025) – Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Corporal Eric Isom with the Law Enforcement Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources the organization’s First Friday Hero for the month of February.

Cpl. Isom is 20-year veteran of the GA DNR, and is assigned to the surrounding Columbus area. During the 2024 boating season, Cpl. Isom made it his mission to protect the boaters on Lake Harding and Lake Oliver. He made 11 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests and charged two people with BUI child endangerment. Due to Cpl. Isom’s aggressive boating patrols, there was only one minor boating incident that occurred on our local waterways.

Cpl. Isom also provided six educational programs to the public regarding boating safety. He is a member of the water safety committee that is partnered with Safe Kids of Columbus. Cpl. Isom participated in the annual life jacket giveaway event that was held on Lake Harding this past summer. Because of his dedication to boating safety and the educational information that he provided, many accidents have been avoided and many lives have been saved.

A ceremony with Cpl. Isom and hospital leadership will be held on Friday, February 7 at 2 p.m. at the Lake Oliver Marina to commend him for his response. His 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 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 what our local do to make the Chattahoochee Valley a safer place,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill.