Two Westport police officers recognized for life-saving actions

WESTPORT MA – The Westport Police Department Awards Committee met regarding a Life Saving Award nomination for Officers Mike Chicca and Jarrod Levesque for their actions on October 11.

According to Westport Police, both Officers responded to a family dispute at a residence located on Drift Road. While speaking with a 56-year-old man and his wife at the scene, the man turned away from the Officers, leaned against his truck, and suddenly and without warning, collapsed.

Both Officers immediately recognized the seriousness of this event and coordinated their actions. While Levesque checked for a pulse, he spoke to the wife to get any medical history of her husband and started chest compressions. Officer Chicca radioed the station for dispatch of an ambulance to respond and retrieved his AED from his cruiser.

They utilized the AED, attaching the pads and delivering a shock as directed, and switched chest compression assignments to limit fatigue while waiting for advanced life support to arrive on scene.

With their quick response and proper utilization of the AED and manual CPR processes, they were able to help the man regain consciousness before advanced life support arrived on scene.

Along with an incident report and written statement from Officer Chicca, the committee also viewed the Officers Body Worn Camera footage of the event. The video verified all details of the lifesaving actions of Chicca and Levesque.

The committee also gave great weight to the statement of Westport Paramedic Glenn Nunes who wrote that this was the “first time in 29 years I brought a patient to the hospital post cardiac arrest that was sitting up talking to me with no complaints. He is definitely alive and doing well from a quick response from your guys.”

The Awards Committee found that the actions of Chicca and Levesque did rise to the standards of reverence and solemnity when considering recognition in awarding Police Medals.