Three members of the Gainesville Police Department were recently honored by the Gainesville City Council for taking swift action in three separate emergency situations, actions that directly led to the saving of a life.
Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish presented each officer to the city council, explaining the circumstances under which each officer took immediate action and became the difference between life and death. He then presented each officer with the department’s Meritorious Service Award.
1 - “On the first of August,” Parrish said of Officer Boris Argueta, “while on patrol a call came out over on Summit Street of a child choking. Boris wasn’t assigned the call, he didn’t have to go to the call…but he realized he was closer and he certainly could get there as a first responder faster than the fire department.”
“When he got to the front steps of the residence he found a 10-year-old showing the classic signs of an obstructed airway…his first responder skills kicked in…he did a finger sweep finding the obstruction and was able to clear the airway and the child began breathing normally before the fire department was able to arrive,” Parrish explained.
2 – Sergeant Dallas Bright was in line at Curt’s in Oakwood on June 30 when he noticed commotion in the dining area.
“There was an elderly male there choking and someone else trying to administer the Heimlich Maneuver unsuccessfully,” Parrish began. “Sgt. Bright is a trained EMT; he knew what to do and immediately rushed to the area and began doing the maneuver.”
“The man began to regain consciousness, regain color, but Sgt. Bright could tell that he still wasn’t okay…then he found out there were further obstructions in the airway…and was able to clear the man’s airway,” Parrish added.
3 – “Officer (Chase) Trammel is no stranger to this award,” Parrish said. “I think he has seven or eight now.”
“On May 8, during the midst of the COVID shutdown, there was a call to Butler Parkway for a cardiac patient. When Chase got there he found a female on the ground in full cardiac arrest - no pulse, not breathing,” Parrish continued.
“He grabbed his AED and his CPR equipment, attached the AED and delivered a shock and began CPR. He regained a pulse but she was still unconscious. Med units took over CPR and transported her to the Medical Center where 10 days later she walked out with no issues.”
Mayor Danny Dunagan said to the three officers after the presentations, “Gentlemen, thank you for your service to our city. Words just cannot express just how much we appreciate you all, and how much we have y’all’s back each and every day you’re out there.”
City Councilwoman Barbara Brooks said, “Thank you for what you do on a daily basis but more so for what you do in a crisis. I just can’t say enough how much we appreciate your willingness to jump in there.”
