Police officers recognized for quick responses that saved lives

Date: 2/8/2010

Feb. 8, 2010

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield police officers who had been involved in saving lives were recognized at a press conference conducted Thursday at police headquarters.

Police Commissioner William Fitchet said incidents such as the ones noted "happen every day."

"They are life-savers every day," he added.

On Jan. 23 at 4:55 p.m. Det. Keith Pouliot was working an extra job detail at the Eastfield Mall when he was notified that Ilene Oakes of Palmer, in the Showcase Cinemas watching a movie, was choking to death and turning blue.

According to Sgt. John Delaney, police department spokesman, "Pouliot responded immediately and relied on his extensive life saving techniques taught at the Springfield Police Department. Pouliot dislodged the item in her throat and continued CPR until the ambulance arrived. The victim, who also suffers from asthma, has heart trouble and cerebral palsy, would have certainly died if not for Officer Keith Pouliot."

Oakes said at the press conference she had passed out and couldn't breathe. Her plight was even more serious because she had her son with her who also has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair.

"I thank you very much," she said to Pouliot with tears in her eyes.

Oakes' son made a diorama honoring Pouliot as a way of thanking the officer for saving his mother's life.

The second event was on Aug. 23 at 3:24 p.m. Springfield police officers were flagged down in the rear of 436 Dwight St. to assist Joseph Demerski, a man who had severely lacerated his leg while doing masonry work at the State House Building.

Delaney's report said, "The officers immediately notified AMR [ambulance] to also respond as time was of the essence. Officers Eugene Rooke, David Standen, William Witherspoon, Carmelo Toledo, J.B. Stern and Mike Brock assisted in CPR right at the scene.

"The 66-year-old victim had severed his femoral artery with a masonry grinding tool and was bleeding to death. The officers did not hesitate and moved in to stop the bleeding. The EMTs eventually arrived and observed that the life saving measures taken by the police officers was saving this man's life. Time was not on their side and the EMTs had to transport this victim right away and get him blood and stop the bleeding.

"The officers assisted in getting him into the ambulance and they cut off intersections to block traffic and get him to the emergency room before he died. Once at the hospital the great staff at Baystate Medical Center pulled him out of the grave. The doctors stated that if not for the quick work of the city cops the 66-year-old masonry worker would have died."

Demerski explained that his grinder was not on because the generator from which it was drawing power was turned off. When the generator came back on line, the grinder restarted and its cord became wrapped around his leg and arm. It cut him three times.

"I lost 22 pints of blood," Demerski said. "I was two minutes from bleeding out."

He has made a full recovery and asked several times to meet with the officers responsible for saving his life.