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Willcox officers receive Life Saving Medals
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| From left, Councilman Chris Donahue, Bill Holloway, Woody Johnson, Stephen Klump, and Bob Irvin present Willcox Department of Public Safety Life Saving Medals to Sgt. Glenn Childers and Chief of Police Jake Weaver during last month's City Council meeting. (Carol Broeder/ARN) |
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
Chief of Police Jake Weaver and Sgt. Glenn Childers were honored last month with medals for saving lives in Willcox.
Weaver presented Childers with the "Willcox Department of Public Safety Life Saving Medal" during the Dec. 19 City Council meeting.
"On July 1, 2010, while on patrol, you responded to an area after hearing what you believed to be gunshots," Weaver said.
Upon arrival, Childers saw a man who was bleeding from the mouth walking in the street, he said.
He asked the man if he was injured, noticing what appeared to be shotgun wounds to the chest.
Childers recognized that it was becoming increasingly difficult for the victim to breath, and was perhaps suffering from internal injuries including a possible punctured lung, and was unable to move under his own power, Weaver said.
Knowing that an ambulance was unavailable, having responded to a car accident north of town, Childers put the injured man into to his own patrol car and took him to Northern Cochise Community Hospital (NCCH), Weaver said.
The man was later transported to a trauma center in Tucson, where he was placed into Intensive Care.
"Because of your actions on that day, the subject survived the gunshot wound and fully recovered," said Weaver, adding, "had you not acted the subject would have perished."
"Your actions bring great honor to you, the Willcox Department of Public Safety, and the police profession," he said.
In the absence of both Mayor Sam Lindsey and Vice Mayor Monika Cronberg, Councilman Woody Johnson read the proclamation honoring Weaver.
"On Oct. 14, 2009, you and other officers responded to a residence for a report of a gunshot victim," he said.
Arriving at the scene, they found an unconscious victim with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.
Taking a compression bandage from another officer's first aid kit, Weaver immediately placed it over the wound.
He then directed officers to help him move the victim so that the bandage could be wrapped around to cover the exit wound in an effort to control bleeding.
"After this immediate attention was administered to the victim, you contacted your dispatch officer to request an estimated time of arrival for the ambulance," Johnson said.
Told it would be about 30 minutes due to the location of the ambulance, Weaver decided to transport the victim to NCCH by patrol car.
Weaver "sat in the back seat with the victim and maintained pressure on the victim's wounds," Johnson said.
The victim was later transported to a trauma center for continued treatment, he added.
"I am pleased to say that the victim survived and has fully recovered," Johnson said.
"There is no doubt that your quick actions, your skills, and the obvious compassion and care you provided to the victim on that October night vastly contributed to this outcome."
"You have honored your fellow officers, me, and most of all the core value you implemented for your department, 'Integrity first, service before self, excellence in all we do,'" Johnson said.
The proclamations awarded the life saving medals on behalf of Lindsey, the council and the citizens of Willcox.
When his turn came to speak, Childers said, "The Chief did not tell me why I was to be here tonight, only to be present and to bring the family."
Childers said that after 18 years in public safety, "it would not be fair to accept this award without remembering the families of those who did not survive."
He thanked his wife, Cheryl, for always being there for him.
He also thanked Weaver, the mayor and council, and City Manager Pat McCourt.
In accepting his own medal, Weaver said that after nearly 20 years with the police department in Willcox, he wishes that he could have done more.
"Public Safety personnel do not go into Law Enforcement for recognition -- we want to serve and protect," said Weaver, adding, "We are not looking for kudos or praise."
Like Childers, Weaver asked those gathered at the meeting to "remember those we could not save and their families."
Weaver thanked his wife, Lina, and his two sons, who have stood by him all these years.
"It does mean a lot of me," he said. "Thank you very much."
Weaver presented Childers with the "Willcox Department of Public Safety Life Saving Medal" during the Dec. 19 City Council meeting.
"On July 1, 2010, while on patrol, you responded to an area after hearing what you believed to be gunshots," Weaver said.
Upon arrival, Childers saw a man who was bleeding from the mouth walking in the street, he said.
He asked the man if he was injured, noticing what appeared to be shotgun wounds to the chest.
Childers recognized that it was becoming increasingly difficult for the victim to breath, and was perhaps suffering from internal injuries including a possible punctured lung, and was unable to move under his own power, Weaver said.
Knowing that an ambulance was unavailable, having responded to a car accident north of town, Childers put the injured man into to his own patrol car and took him to Northern Cochise Community Hospital (NCCH), Weaver said.
The man was later transported to a trauma center in Tucson, where he was placed into Intensive Care.
"Because of your actions on that day, the subject survived the gunshot wound and fully recovered," said Weaver, adding, "had you not acted the subject would have perished."
"Your actions bring great honor to you, the Willcox Department of Public Safety, and the police profession," he said.
In the absence of both Mayor Sam Lindsey and Vice Mayor Monika Cronberg, Councilman Woody Johnson read the proclamation honoring Weaver.
"On Oct. 14, 2009, you and other officers responded to a residence for a report of a gunshot victim," he said.
Arriving at the scene, they found an unconscious victim with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.
Taking a compression bandage from another officer's first aid kit, Weaver immediately placed it over the wound.
He then directed officers to help him move the victim so that the bandage could be wrapped around to cover the exit wound in an effort to control bleeding.
"After this immediate attention was administered to the victim, you contacted your dispatch officer to request an estimated time of arrival for the ambulance," Johnson said.
Told it would be about 30 minutes due to the location of the ambulance, Weaver decided to transport the victim to NCCH by patrol car.
Weaver "sat in the back seat with the victim and maintained pressure on the victim's wounds," Johnson said.
The victim was later transported to a trauma center for continued treatment, he added.
"I am pleased to say that the victim survived and has fully recovered," Johnson said.
"There is no doubt that your quick actions, your skills, and the obvious compassion and care you provided to the victim on that October night vastly contributed to this outcome."
"You have honored your fellow officers, me, and most of all the core value you implemented for your department, 'Integrity first, service before self, excellence in all we do,'" Johnson said.
The proclamations awarded the life saving medals on behalf of Lindsey, the council and the citizens of Willcox.
When his turn came to speak, Childers said, "The Chief did not tell me why I was to be here tonight, only to be present and to bring the family."
Childers said that after 18 years in public safety, "it would not be fair to accept this award without remembering the families of those who did not survive."
He thanked his wife, Cheryl, for always being there for him.
He also thanked Weaver, the mayor and council, and City Manager Pat McCourt.
In accepting his own medal, Weaver said that after nearly 20 years with the police department in Willcox, he wishes that he could have done more.
"Public Safety personnel do not go into Law Enforcement for recognition -- we want to serve and protect," said Weaver, adding, "We are not looking for kudos or praise."
Like Childers, Weaver asked those gathered at the meeting to "remember those we could not save and their families."
Weaver thanked his wife, Lina, and his two sons, who have stood by him all these years.
"It does mean a lot of me," he said. "Thank you very much."
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Ray wrote on Jan 23, 2012 11:10 AM: