SNELLVILLE - Two Snellville officers are credited with saving the lives of two citizens in less than a week during separate drug overdose-related calls last month.
For their heroic actions, officers Aaron Devries and Alexander Thorpe were given proclamations by Mayor and Council Monday.
“I am very proud of the efforts made by officers Devries and Thorpe,” Chief Greg Perry said. “Saving two lives in a five-day period is an amazing accomplishment. Their actions further personify our officers’ desire to render aid to all those in need.”
On Oct. 5, the officers were working the night shift when they received a call of a person down at a residence off Park Lane. Devries and Thorpe quickly responded to the emergency call for service, arriving on scene and locating the person inside the home.
Devries checked vital signs on the victim and determined that he was not breathing and there was no pulse. Devries immediately called for an ambulance and began CPR on the victim. While this was taking place, Thorpe used his department-issued Naloxone – a remedy used to revive drug-overdose victims – to the unconscious male. Devries continued chest compressions until the victim began to breathe on his own.
Five days later on Oct. 10, the officers were again working the night shift when another call of a person down came into dispatch, this time off Pine Road.
As in the previous case, the officers arrived on scene and located the person down inside the home. The victim was not breathing and there was no pulse. Again, Devries immediately began CPR on the victim while Thorpe administered Naloxone. Devries continued chest compressions until Gwinnett County EMS arrived. The officers helped the ambulance crew to remove the victim from a bedroom when the victim began to breathe on his own and was able to be transported to the hospital for treatment.
”If it had it not been for the quick and professional actions by Devries and Thorpe, it is likely that the victim (s) would have died,” the proclamation reads.
The officers received a standing ovation by those in attendance and Mayor and Council for their heroic actions.