PORT ORCHARD — The Medal of Valor sounds like something out of a fantasy novel. It brings to mind images of knights in armor, fighting for truth and justice in the world.

In reality, it is the highest honor the North Kitsap Sheriff’s office gives out to its deputies for bravery and hard work in helping someone out of harm’s way.

Deputy Justin Childs of Poulsbo might not wear armor of the fantasy novel variety everyday, but he does wear a shield to work. Childs was awarded the Medal of Valor for saving a man during the Feb. 4 windstorm that struck Kitsap. The man’s waterfront cabin in Kingston was being washed out into the Puget Sound by high waves and winds, and he was too terrified to leave it. Childs managed to save him by wading out, even disconnecting his lifeline to reach the man.

“We couldn’t get a boat out there because of the waves,” Childs said. “The fire department tried, and it didn’t work. So I went down to try and help.”

Childs wound up having to talk the man into jumping from the porch. The man was frantic, and intoxicated, said Childs, who was pulled under the waves at one point when the man panicked.

“All I could think was, ‘Don’t pull me under,’” he said. “‘No, just don’t.’ I managed to get my head back above water and pull the man to safety.”

For those efforts, Childs was awarded with the sheriff’s office’s highest honor. Though Childs rescued the man, he never got his name and hasn’t had contact with him since.

“He wanted us to go back out and rescue his Chevy Blazer after we got him,” Childs said, noting that the man seemed more concerned about his belongings than being saved or the cabin.

“I was so impressed when I read the report of the incident,” said Sheriff Steve Boyer. “You have to pass a lot of muster, and this award is not passed out often or lightly. I can’t tell you how proud I am to be giving it to Deputy Childs.”

Childs said he had never done anything like the rescue before on the job, but said that he would do it again in a heartbeat.

“I would do it again,” Childs said. “I didn’t hesitate at the time, I don’t think I would now. It’s rewarding, and I know at the same time that it would be true for any of the guys here to do the same.”

Childs is a North Kitsap native, growing up in Poulsbo and graduating from North Kitsap High School in 1993. He attended Central Washington University, where he worked for his bachelor’s in criminal justice, graduating in 1998. Childs works primarily out of the Kingston Sheriff’s Office.

“I like the action and the responsibility,” Childs said of his job. “I like helping people and putting the bad guys in jail. It’s a rewarding and fun job for me.”

“This is our chance to formally recognize the people who work hard, long hours in this job,” Boyer said. “It’s symbolically meaningful. This happens once every three years or so. Childs did what almost all of us would do, and put himself in harms way to help somebody else. I have great pride for him.”

Childs received his award at a ceremony June 8 in Port Orchard. The bestowing brought the number of active deputies in the agency with the honor to six.