Town of Newburgh police officers and EMS personnel were honored with Life Saving Awards earlier this month for their roles in saving an unresponsive person during an emergency call in May.

The awards were presented at the Aug. 10 Town Board meeting, recognizing five police officers and EMS personnel who responded to the May 22 emergency at the intersection of Route 32 and Fostertown Road. The patient survived, was discharged and has since made a full recovery, according to the town.

“These workers really do God’s work,” said Town Supervisor Gil Piaquado at the meeting. “This man wouldn’t have been alive without you, so I can’t thank you enough.”

Before officers arrived, a bystander called 911 and began providing lifesaving assistance under the direction of Orange County 911 Public Safety Dispatcher Carrie Sager, according to the town.

Town of Newburgh police officers arrived first and began resuscitation efforts using an automated external defibrillator, according to Piaquado. EMS personnel arrived shortly after and took over care of the patient.

EMS personnel provided advanced cardiac life support, including heart monitoring, defibrillation, medication, advanced airway management and continued stabilization while the patient was transported to the hospital.

Piaquadio described the rescue as a “seamless chain of survival” involving the combined efforts of the bystander, Sager, police officers and EMS personnel.
The response also highlighted an ongoing training partnership between the town’s police and EMS departments. Town EMS regularly trains police officers in CPR, the use of automated external defibrillators, and other emergency medical procedures.

The town said the joint training strengthens coordination between the two agencies and helps officers become familiar with lifesaving equipment and procedures used during critical emergencies.

The EMS personnel recognized for their involvement were Paramedic Matthew Weir, Assistant Chief Paramedic Ryan Quinlan, EMTs Kyle Carpenter and Calvin Wong and EMP trainee Morgan Snoop.

Sgt. John Rader and officers Dillon Benedict, Craig Furey, Greg Frey and Adam Geyer were the police officers recognized for their efforts.

Piaquadio and the Town Board also thanked the unidentified bystander and Sager for their roles in the lifesaving effort.