PORT TOWNSEND — Two Port Townsend Police Department officers, Luke Bogues and Nate Holmes, have been recognized for saving lives.
Bogues and Holmes both received Port Townsend Police Department Life Saving Awards from Police Chief Conner Daily at the City Council meeting Monday for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on unconscious people while awaiting paramedics.
‘Very proud’
“We’re all very proud of you,” said Mayor Michelle Sandoval.
“On behalf of all of us, I thank you for your life-saving actions.”
Bogues, who received one award, and Holmes, who received two, both said they were glad they could help.
“I was just a few blocks away when I got the call,” Holmes said.
“I turned on the siren and went right up to the guy. It was just the right place and the right time.”
Said Bogues: “In both of our situations, it was just being in the right place at the right time.
“I was right in the area, and within a minute I was able to begin CPR.”
Their chief said they were valuable officers.
“I’m very proud to have these men as part of this department,” he said.
In two cases, the person given CPR survived; in another, the man later died.
“It’s a shame that happened,” said Port Townsend Police Sgt. Ed Green later, ” but [Holmes] training gave the man a better chance to survive.”
Quick action
Bogues, a former Peninsula Daily News reporter before entering law enforcement, received a commendation for immediate action when he was called to a hair salon in the 1300 block of Sims Way in Port Townsend on May 15.
He pulled the 81-year-old woman who had suffered cardiac arrest from her chair and gave her CPR.
The woman was conscious when paramedics put her into an ambulance, and she later recovered, Green said.
On Aug. 23, Holmes was on patrol in downtown Port Townsend when a man lost consciousness and fell onto the sidewalk in the 200 block of Taylor Street.
Holmes began CPR before paramedics arrived and continued to perform CPR until paramedics took him to Jefferson Healthcare hospital.
Green said the man later made a full recovery.
On April 16 Holmes, answering a call from a home near North Beach, found a 69-year-old man unconscious.
He performed CPR on the man, who regained consciousness before paramedics arrived. On the way to the hospital, the man again slipped out of consciousness and later died.
“Still, Nate did what he is trained to do and resuscitated the individual,” Green said.
All officers trained
Green said all Port Townsend officers are trained in first aid, and know how to perform CPR.
“We’re normally the first ones on scene,” Green said.
“Unlike the fire district, we have the benefit of being on patrol all the time, we are monitoring all emergency frequencies and our vehicles can often maneuver easier through traffic and people.
“If we are going to be the first ones to arrive, we need to be able to help people and it should be comforting for the public to know that we can and do.”
Said Bogues: “If you’ve ever taken the classes you know how crucial that is to get it started as soon as possible.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
