Two Kutztown Borough Police Department police officers received a Saving a Life Award for performing above and beyond in the line of duty.
Kutztown Mayor Sandy K. Green presented the awards during the Kutztown Borough Council meeting on Sept. 20. Police Officers Jake Auman and Charles Lawson both received the award for their actions on the night of August 8, 2016.
Auman and Lawson were the first responders for an emergency call. They received a dispatch that EMS was going to an elderly man’s house who had past heart problems. According to Auman, the wife was receiving CPR instructions over the phone.
“You didn’t even second guess it, your training kicks in,” Auman said. “It’s instinct.”
Auman reflected on the event, “We lifted him off the couch, and Officer Lawson didn’t feel a pulse, so at that point I started CPR and chest compressions.” He said, “Once I started, I kept doing compressions.”
Lawson was hooking up the AED while Auman was doing the chest compression as the EMS arrived at the scene. The officers and the EMS worked together and switched off to continue chest compressions and use the AED.
According to Lawson, the man only received one shock before he got his pulse back. “After 15 to 20 minutes we were able to get a pulse.”
After his pulse came the officers helped him into the ambulance to go to the hospital. He is believed to have recovered completely.
This is Lawson’s second time receiving this award. He received his first award earlier this year also for a heart attack. He was the first responder.
Lawson and Auman both have military backgrounds. Lawson was in the Army National Guard and Auman was in the Marine Core for four years of active duty as an Infantry Mortarman.
Lawson has been a member of the Kutztown Borough Police Department for four years and Auman has been a member for a year and half.
