Officer Awarded Life Saving Medal for Response to Drowning Victim

Communications Director

Kristin Farley
[email protected]
(865) 215-2589

400 Main St., Room 691
Knoxville, TN 37902

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Officer Awarded Life Saving Medal for Response to Drowning Victim

Posted: 10/16/2013
Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Police Chief David Rausch awarded the department's Life Saving Medal to Knoxville Police Department Officer Sharon Terrell. Officer Terrell has been with KPD since January 1996.

Chief Rausch said that on June 15, 2013, at approximately 8:46 p.m., Officer Terrell responded to a male drowning in a swimming pool at an apartment complex on Brentway Circle. Upon her arrival she was met by several people yelling for her to help. The victim, who had been pulled from the pool, was not breathing and had no pulse.

Chief Rausch said, "Officer Terrell cleared the male victim's airway and immediately started CPR. She continued the CPR until emergency technicians from the Knoxville Fire Department arrived and took over the life saving measures. By this time Officer Terrell had been successful in getting a faint pulse on the victim."

Emergency personnel indicated that had it not been for Officer Terrell's quick actions the chance for survival for the victim would have been greatly decreased.

Chief Rausch said, "Officer Terrell kept her cool and used her training and experience to help save the victim's life."