Hewitt, Texas - Police officer honored for life-saving
Officer honored for life-saving endeavor
By Katy Moore, Waco, Texas Tribune-Herald, Thursday, March 02, 2006
When he responded to a routine emergency call three days before Christmas, Hewitt police officer John Tucker had no idea he'd be saving a life.
The 25-year-old officer began working for the Hewitt Police Department a little more than four years ago, hoping to make a difference. On Dec. 22 he had his chance. Tucker answered an emergency response call and was the first to arrive.
When he got there, Tucker found a local man not breathing and without a pulse and immediately began CPR. John Buchle, a Hewitt Volunteer Fire Department member and a volunteer paramedic, arrived next and helped Tucker.
“By the time rescue got there, we had a pulse on him,” Tucker said. “We continued CPR until East Texas (Medical Center emergency medical technicians) arrived and advised us that he had a fairly strong pulse.”
Earlier this month the Hewitt Police Department and the Hewitt City Council presented Tucker with the department's Life Saving Award for his response, although the patient later died from causes unrelated to the emergency call Tucker answered. “It's very rare that we have an opportunity to perform these functions,” Hewitt public information officer Tuck Saunders said. “Usually, paramedics respond first to these calls.”
The award is given only to officers recommended by a supervising officer. After that recommendation, the award must be approved by department personnel, including the chief. “Officer Tucker well deserves this,” Saunders noted. “Between his actions and the fire department, it was a good situation that turned out good.”
Tucker said receiving the award simply highlighted the reasons he became a police officer in the first place. “This is probably the greatest achievement since I've been a police officer,” he said. “A lot of that, making a difference, is the whole reason to become a police officer. I really appreciate it, but I was just doing my job.”
Retrieved March 5,2006 from http://www.wacotrib.com/search/content/living/neighbor/stories/2006/03/02/20060302wachewittlifesaver.html