Goshen Police lifesaving awards honor five officers for heroic actions
GOSHEN, Ind. — Five Goshen police officers received lifesaving and meritorious service awards Monday for helping save three lives during separate emergencies this year.
Police Chief Andy Stephenson presented the Goshen Police lifesaving awards to Officers Luis Lopez, Mitchell Garrett, Anthony Reese, Eduardo Osoria and Daniil Shendel during the Sept. 14 Goshen City Council meeting. The honors recognized their actions during three emergencies in May, June and July.
The department presents its Life-Saving Award when an officer’s actions prevent significant injury or save a life. The Meritorious Service Citation recognizes high accomplishment under adverse conditions that prevents serious injury or death.
Goshen Police lifesaving awards recognize decisive action
Patrolman Luis Lopez received a Life-Saving Award for his response to Keystone RV on July 2.
Longtime Keystone employee Pat Moran collapsed at work and went into cardiac arrest. Coworkers immediately began CPR and used an automated external defibrillator, or AED.
Lopez arrived and took over CPR from the employees. He continued until Goshen Fire Department medics arrived and transported Moran to Goshen Hospital.
Moran made a full recovery.
“I looked at him today, and it doesn’t even seem like he went through anything,” Lopez later told WNDU. “He looks happy and healthy, and it’s so awesome to see that.”
Stephenson credited the outcome to teamwork among Keystone employees, first responders and Goshen Hospital medical staff. He said Lopez’s actions directly contributed to saving Moran’s life.
Garrett recognized for June response
Patrolman Mitchell Garrett received a Life-Saving Award for his response to a medical emergency June 9 on Goshen’s northwest side.
He arrived to find a 35-year-old person unresponsive and without a pulse. Another resident was performing chest compressions.
Garrett took over CPR and administered a dose of Narcan. He continued CPR until Goshen Fire Department medical personnel arrived.
Medics transported the person to Goshen Hospital, where the individual made a full recovery.
Four officers stop person from jumping from bridge
The department also recognized Patrolmen Anthony Reese, Garrett, Eduardo Osoria and Daniil Shendel for their response to a May 7 emergency near North Third and Pike streets.
Reese and Garrett arrived as a person climbed the fence on the east side of the bridge. The officers tried to engage the person in conversation and persuade them to climb down.
When the person began to jump, Reese and Garrett rushed to the fence and grabbed them.
The officers could not immediately pull the person back over the fence. They held on until Osoria and Shendel arrived and helped pull the person to safety.
The department presented all four officers with Life-Saving and Meritorious Service awards. Stephenson said the officers risked their own safety during the rescue, and their actions saved a life.
“These incidents highlight how quickly a routine call can become a life-or-death emergency,” Stephenson said. “They also remind us how immediate action and teamwork can change the outcome.”