Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Two Hopewell Township police officers and a dispatcher were honored with one of the Hopewell Township Police Department’s highest awards for their role in saving the life of a 73-year-old man earlier this summer.
Police officers Vincent Amabile and Nicholas Sparaco, along with dispatcher Gregory Peck, were given the Life-Saving Award by the township committee at its Aug. 28 meeting.
Mayor Kevin Kuchinski and Deputy Mayor Julie Blake gave the trio copies of a resolution honoring them and the red-and-white ribbon that indicates the life-saving award for their uniforms.
Some time around 8 p.m. on July 31, the Police Department received a 911 call that a 73-year-old man was unconscious, according to the Township Committee resolution. Based on the information provided by the caller, Peck thought the man might be suffering a heart attack.
Officers Amabile and Sparaco were sent to the Pond View Lane home. Peck, in the meantime, advised Mercer County Central Communications to send an ambulance and paramedics to the house.
The two police officers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the victim while waiting for the paramedics to arrive. The victim’s pulse returned and he began to breathe again. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Police Chief Lance Maloney praised the police officers and the dispatcher for doing a “very nice job.” They were able to provide life-saving assistance to the victim, he said.
“(The victim) reached out to me and wanted to come to the Township Committee meeting to thank the officers and the dispatcher,” Chief Maloney said, adding that the man was tired and was unable to attend the meeting.
“To the officers – great job,” Chief Maloney said.
