BPD officers honored for saving lives

Several officers of the Blytheville Police Department have been recognized during the first half of 2021 for their quick thinking and lifesaving actions in three separate incidents. The first incident occurred on Feb. 16, during some of the worst winter weather of the season. Lt. Michael Dannar and Sgt. Michael Zwerlein were in the local Walmart getting winter supplies needed for the police department when they discovered a female customer unconscious and wedged in a metal industrial ladder.

The two officers worked together for several minutes to dislodge the customer who was barely breathing. After medical personnel arrived, Lt. Dannar and Sgt. Zwerlein coordinated with Pafford Ambulance and Survival Flight to set up a landing zone in the store parking lot.

The second incident occurred on June 25, in the area of Tenth and Adams streets when an eight-year-old child on a bicycle was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street.

Officers Willie Cunigan and Stephanie Kirk were in the area gathering information for a report when the incident occurred. Officer Kirk, who is also a nurse, immediately began to render aid to the child. Lt. Dannar, Sgt. John Caruthers and Officer Deadrick Colley came to the scene to assist and made the decision to transport the child to Great River Medical Center in a police vehicle due to the child’s injuries.

The third incident occurred on July 10, at 821 South Lilly Street. Officers responded to the scene for a medical call only to discover that the victim was also the suspected offender of a criminal mischief in which a window at the residence was broken. The suspect had a severe laceration to his wrist and Officer David Cross brought a tourniquet to the scene and applied it to stop the bleeding.

All the officers mentioned in these incidents will be presented the Meritorious Service Award for their life sustaining actions during these critical incidents.