Press release from the Homer Police Department.
On February 1, 2021, three Homer Police Officers and an Investigator for the New York State People received the departmental life-saving awards for their actions during 2020. Also, a former Homer Police Officer received the departmental distinguished service award. The presentation was held at TLC Ambulance Services.
The following were recognized:
Officer Michael Howell responded to a residence on January 20, 2020 for an unconscious person. When the officer arrived, he determined that the victim was not breathing and was the result of an opioid overdose. He revived the victim by administering NARCAN thereby saving the victim’s life.
Homer School Resource Officer Quentin Giles and his wife, New York State Police Investigator Amanda Giles, were off duty on December 18, 2020, having lunch at restaurant in the village, when they both were made aware of an unconscious male in the establishment. They immediately went to the male’s aid where they determined that he was not breathing and did not have a pulse. Once they made this determination, despite the risks involved with the exposure to the dangerous Covid-19 virus, they both began CPR on him.
On-duty Homer Police Officer Roodenburg arrived on scene and assisted with CPR as well as applied an automatic external defibrillator (AED) and administered it. The male eventually regained consciousness and was transported by ambulance to Cortland-Guthrie Hospital in Cortland. School Resource Officer Quentin Giles, Investigator Amanda Giles and Officer Timothy Roodenburg the Homer Police Department’s Life Saving Award.
In addition to the departmental awards, TLC Ambulance Services owner, David Butler, presented the officers and investigator with a lifesaving award for their actions on December 18, 2020. He also presented TLC Ambulance personnel, Kenneth Knickerbocker and Anna Hemingway, who were the crew that responded to the scene on December 18, 2020, a life-saving award.
The male that was saved by the officers and investigator was former Onondaga County Legislature Robert Demore. Mr. Demore attended the presentation and thanked everyone involved in saving his life.
Former Police Officer Matthew Compton received the departmental distinguished service award for responding to the City of Cortland on March 27, 2020 to assist with the incident where a Cortland Police Officer was shot. He assisted in caring for the injured officer and after the officer was transported to the hospital assisted with the perimeter.
This was Officer Compton’s last shift with the Village of Homer Police Department. He and his family have since relocated to Wisconsin where he is now a police officer with Menomonee Falls Police Department.
Congratulations to all the officers and EMS crew!
