By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Going above and beyond is an apt description for two police officers who scaled a tree this summer to save a woman’s life.
The quick-thinking bravery of eight Chatham-Kent Police Service personnel in two separate incidents this past summer has been recognized, including the life-saving efforts 40 feet up a tree.
At a recent CKPS board meeting, a trio of CKPS officers and two emergency dispatchers received a Chief’s Commendation for helping save the life of suicidal young woman in Chatham.
According to a report from Chief Kirk Earley, police received a 911 call June 5, in which a frantic mother said her daughter had fled the home and was going to kill herself.
The family began to search and found her running into a large field backing onto a local high school.
Throughout, emergency operator Helen Grubb worked diligently to gather information, remaining on the line until officers arrived. Her work was backed up by supervisor Jen Roesch who ensured accurate transmission of information.
Constables Marco Sapateiro, Kyle Blommers and Sgt. Fraser Leontowicz arrived on scene to find the woman had climbed 40 feet into a pine tree and was threatening to jump.
During negotiations with the girl, it was discovered she was unresponsive and could be suffering from a seizure. Without hesitation Sapaterio and Blommers climbed the tree to prevent the woman from falling.
The woman began shaking and convulsing while in the tree and two constables rendered first aid as best they could, securing the woman to the tree. During this, Leontowicz called for an aerial firetruck and ambulance to assist.
For at least 20 minutes, the two officers held the woman in the tree, assisting while she had two more seizures. When backup arrived, the pair got her onto a board for transport. She was subsequently taken to Chatham-Kent Health Alliance for treatment.
“Due to the information gathered and dispatched by ECO Grubb and ECO supervisor Roesch, along with the bravery and swift actions of Const. Blommers, Const. Sapateiro and Sgt. Leontowicz, the female’s life was saved,” Earley said.
Another trio of officers received a Deputy Chief’s Letter of Recognition from Acting CKPS Deputy Chief Matt Stezycki for the role they played in a sudden death investigation June 30.
Const. Taryn Apers was first on scene in response to a 911 call that a man was inside a vehicle in Wallaceburg with vital signs absent. Apers arrived in short order to meet the family member who called, along with a young child who had been in the vehicle. The officer found the man hunched forward with his head pinned between two seats, however she was able to move him into a semi-reclined position and start chest compressions.
Constables Andy Brown and Chris Reynolds also responded and managed to get the heavyset man on the ground where they continued CPR while trying to calm family members. But despite their efforts, the man died.
“Their actions exemplified the character and reputation to which our service strives for,” Stezycki said in his comments.
