Westport officers recognized for life-saving actions

WESTPORT, Mass. (WLNE) — Two police officers from Westport are nominated for a Life Saving Award after their quick thinking saved a man’s life earlier this month.

According to the Westport Police Department, officers Mike Chicca and Jarrod Levesque are nominated for the Life Saving Award.

The department said that on October 11, of this year, both Chicca and Levesque responded to a family dispute at a residence 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 car and suddenly collapsed without warning.

Officials said both officers immediately addressed the situation and began administering chest compressions to the man while asking his wife about his medical history.

Chicca and Levesque used the AED and delivered shocks while waiting for EMTs to arrive.

The Westport Police Department said that because of the officers’ quick thinking, they were able to help the man regain consciousness before EMTs arrived.

A veteran paramedic in Westport also praised the officer’s quick actions saying that 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.”

The Westport Police Department Awards Committee found that the actions of both Officer Chicca and Officer Levesque did rise to the standards sough when considering recognition in awarding police medals.