The Saint John Police Force handed out several awards Thursday to those willing to provide a helping hand.
The police force held its first Awards and Recognition Ceremony, set to become an annual event, at the Lily Lake Pavilion.
Among those recognized were citizens Lynn Hamilton and Carla MacDonald, who received the Chief’s Letter of Commendation for helping to save a man’s life earlier this year.
On Jan. 13, John McNichol suffered a heart attack at Walmart on Fairville Boulevard, fell to the floor, and stopped breathing.
Hamilton and MacDonald, who work at the west side Walmart, took matters into their own hands.
They called emergency services, performed CPR, grabbed the store’s defibrillator, and used it twice.
“I thought to myself, I’m going to do the best I can to make sure that he gets to see another day,” said Hamilton.
“We had no idea that when he left what was going to transpire, but very happy that we got a call from the hospital thanking us for what we did, and for being there, as things were making a turn for the better, and we were very thankful.”
MacDonald mentioned there was no thinking involved, and they “just ran and did what they needed to do.”
“We got the defibrillator, Lynn was doing the compressions, and we got the machine on him, had to use it twice, and just kept doing the compressions, I took over when Lynn was tired, and until the police officer got there, honestly, I don’t think we had time to think,” said MacDonald.
Const. Derek Scaplen arrived on the scene and took over CPR until paramedics got to the scene and transported McNichol to the hospital.
McNichol met MacDonald and Hamilton for the first time at Thursday’s ceremony and thanked them for their life-saving actions.
“Very thankful that’s all you can say because I don’t remember anything, and that is a thank you in itself,” said McNichol.
“The doctors said if I’d been anywhere else except the emergency room, the Walmart was the best. They have people who are trained.”
A full house at Lily Lake Pavilion for the Saint John Police Force’s first awards and recognition ceremony. pic.twitter.com/p7B6mMvk2g
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) May 12, 2022
Below is the full list of award recipients.
30 Years of Service – City of Saint John Long Service Recognition:
- Kim Arseneault
- Kelly Stanton
Chief’s Certificate of Promotion:
- Cynthia Lund – Training & Development Manager
- Colleen Naves – Exhibits & Property Control Supervisor
- Stephen Davidson – Sergeant
- Geoff MacDonald – Sergeant
- Tammy Sanders – Sergeant
- Tammy Spence – Sergeant
Chief’s Recognition of Retirement:
- Deputy Chief Tony Hayes
- Gerard Hodd
Service Recognition Award:
- Const. Derek Scaplen
- Const. Tyler White
Leadership Award:
- Dan Forbes
Deputy Chief’s Commendation:
- Const. Shawna Doiron
- Const. Shanda Weir
Chief’s Commendation:
- Const. Tony Arsenault
- Const. Ryan Wilson
Chief’s Letter of Commendation:
- Lynn Hamilton
- Carla MacDonald
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