Five members of the Smithville police department were honored Monday night for helping save lives in a pair of life and death situations.
Awarded life-saving plaques and medals were Will Judkins, Tyler Patterson, Brandon Donnell, Sgt. Lance Dillard and Andy Snow. They were conferred the honor by Police Chief Mark Collins before the city board of mayor and aldermen and those in attendance at the meeting.
Judkins and Donnell were cited for helping save a woman’s life after she had overdosed on opioids last November just three days after Thanksgiving.
“When the officers arrived she was found in a back bedroom lying face down,” Chief Collins revealed in the citation. “They checked for a pulse but none was present. Officers then placed her on the floor and started chest compressions with her husband watching. Shortly after starting chest compressions the woman gasped for breath and regained a pulse but she was still unresponsive to vocal commands. Officers then administered Narcan. After a few seconds the woman lost pulse again. Officers continued chest compressions until EMS and paramedics arrived.”
Snow, Patterson and Dillard were cited for pulling a man from a burning house, their heroics coming in the nick of time.
“On January 31 of this year, officers were dispatched to a call of a burning home,” the Chief said. “They found a residence on fire with flames and smoke coming out of the doors and windows. Neighbors told the officers that the occupant of this home was still inside. Officers made entry into the smoke filled home and were able to find the man lying on the floor. They were able to drag the man from the burning home to safety where later he was transported to Nashville with third degree burns to his upper body and burns to his lungs.”
The Chief went on to say there was no time to spare when they drug home out of the flames. “Doctors later said that if this man had stayed in the fire 30 seconds to a minute longer he could not have survived. These actions on this day due to their brave and unselfish act saved a life.”
The chief went on to say he is proud to work with such dedicated officers.
