By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE – Three officers from the Trussville Police Department received Life-Saving Awards during the Trussville City Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021.
Cpl. John Middleton, Ofc. Michael Montana and Ofc. Brian Williams were recognized for applying a tourniquet and pressure bandages to a gunshot victim.
The incident happened on April 9, 2021. The victim was a passenger in a car the officers stopped for speeding. The police department had already been called with a description of the vehicle and the caller told dispatch there was a possible gunshot victim inside the car. When the officers saw the man bleeding profusely from his left thigh, Chief Eric Rush said the officers jumped into action to save his life.
“They got him out of the car and got their medic bag that they keep and went to work on him until the medics could get there,” said Rush. “The medic said the gunshot wound was in his femoral artery and he was bleeding out while they were working on him. Then, when they got to the hospital, the doctor said the tourniquet was applied 100% properly and more than likely kept him from bleeding out.”
Rush said he is thankful his officers used their training to take the measures to help the man.
“It makes me proud,” said Rush. “Because the guy wasn’t cooperative. He didn’t want them to do it but they knew that he was not in his right mind and they just made the decision for him. I’m just glad that we have the tourniquets, and we have the training to apply them properly if the need arises.”
After the awards were presented, all council members and everyone attending the meeting stood for applause.
Rush said the department will soon add more items to the officers’ medic bags.
As for the awards program, although it has been around for a while, the chief said it has recently been updated.
“These are the first actual awards we’ve presented to any officer,” Rush added. “We’ve done some commendations and certificates and stuff. It reinforces and recognizes when they do something good. You can’t just talk about the bad all of the time. You have to have something positive.”
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the council approved the annexation of two properties that were recommended by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
The properties are at 5137 Vann Valley Drive and 6618 Advent Circle. Another annexation, at 8440 Johnson Road, was tabled because the fire department does not have a fire hydrant to use for the property.
The following items were approved on the Consent Agenda:
- Section X. Auditing Accounts
- Amend Jail Health Care Services Contract between the City and QCHC of Alabama Regarding Professional Liability, Commercial General Liability and Agreement Assignment
- Extend Resurfacing Maintenance Contract between the City and Dunn Construction on the same terms, conditions and prices, with July 11, 2022 end date
- Approve 5% education premium pay for Police Public Safety Dispatcher Michelle Payton, effective August 14, 2021
- Agree on Contract For Purchase with The Barber Companies (Purchaser) Regarding 1445 Gadsden Highway Property
- Hire David Rector as Parks & Rec Recreation Leader (Grade 12 – Step 1), effective August 14, 2021
- Auditing accounts
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- Accounts payable
- Ballistic Shield Course for Police Detective James McCool, November 15-16 in Forsyth, Ga. $449 registration fee plus accommodations
- Alabama Municipal Revenue Officers Certification and Maintenance Training for Admin Licensing Clerk Cathy Jensen, October 6-8 at the Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa. $235 registration fee plus accommodations
- Association of Alabama Tax Administrators Licensing Conference for Admin Licensing Clerks Cathy Jensen and Donna Newton, December 8-9 at Marriott Legends in Prattville. $150 registration fee per person plus accommodations
Council President Alan Taylor was not in attendance at the meeting Tuesday. The next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, following a workshop on Thursday, Aug. 19.
