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Life Saving Incident

July 25, 2015
California
Riverside County
Palm Springs

On July 25, 2015, Officer Matt Steed was dispatched to a call of a person down in the roadway in the area of Gene Autry Trail and Dinah Shore Drive. He arrived to find an unresponsive adult male lying in the street near a bicycle. At first Officer Steed was not sure if this was a traffic collision scene. Officer Steed quickly blocked off traffic to prevent any further injury to the male, later identified as Mr. Lucas. Officer Steed checked Mr. Lucas’ vitals and discovered that he was not breathing and did not have a pulse. Officer Steed made the decision to begin CPR and continued to do so for approximately five minutes until the Palm Springs Fire Department arrived and took over life saving measures. Mr. Lucas was transported to a hospital for treatment. Officer Steed then began an investigation and learned that Mr. Lucas was not involved in a traffic collision; but most likely suffered a medical emergency, falling from his bicycle onto the busy roadway. After Officer Steed arrived at the hospital, he was advised by hospital staff that Mr. Lucas had suffered a heart attack. Mr. Lucas was alive and was listed in critical condition. Sadly, he succumbed six days later; however, due to Officer Steed’s actions, Mr. Lucas was allowed some additional time with his family, friends and loved ones. Officer Steed was commended for his actions. His ability to focus on the task at hand was directly responsible for aiding Mr. Lucas to breathe again; although he was not able to recuperate. Officer Steed’s role in this incident was crucial and without his administering of CPR, there would have been very little chance of regaining a pulse on Mr. Lucas. At the Palm Springs City Council meeting on Wednesday, September 2, 2015, Chief of Police Franz awarded Officer Steed the Palm Springs Police Department Medal of Life Saving for his actions in attempting to save the life of another. Officer Steed received a standing ovation from those in attendance.

The history of law enforcement in the United States is a long and wonderful history of bravery. This website is dedicated to documenting the heroic deeds of law enforcement officers throughout the United States who have either given or risked their lives to save others. There are many stories of bravery and heroism for many who are considered first responders. However, it is those in law enforcement who are most likely to be the first to arrive upon a location requiring life saving acts engaging dangerous hostage takers, running into burning buildings/vehicles, providing first aid to seriously injured victims, saving near drowning victims and much more are what the women and men of law enforcement do routinely and at many times, great peril to their own safety.
It is our mission to document the history of lives saved by those dedicated women and men in law enforcement. To share with others the dramatic deeds of those individuals who are the first, first responders. It is so important for our citizens to understand that law "enforcement" is not always about enforcing the law but rather being there when our citizens need us.
It is to this end we are dedicated to promoting documentation regarding the history of law enforcement and the lives they have saved.