Deputies Go The Extra Step For Heart Attack Victim During Blizzard
By Jeff Todd
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - A trio of deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is receiving public praise for their kindness during Wednesday's blizzard.
For only the second time in his 16-year career, Deputy Andy Dillman performed CPR on someone who was dead and brought them back to life.
That wasn't all he did for the victim and his family.
"I found a gentleman on his kitchen floor, he had no pulse and was not breathing," said Deputy Dillman.
He responded to the call first, and performed CPR on the heart attack victim.
"Him being there at the right place and the right time he was able to, sounds like, save his life," said Deputy Donny Springfield.
With more than a foot of snow on the ground and snow still coming down, a small path needed to be shoveled to get the EMT's gurney inside to transport the victim. Deputies grabbed a shovel and didn't stop.
"I don't do many things well but I can move stuff, and so when that happens I'm usually the first to get picked," said Deputy Springfield.
"The driveway had 18 inches of snow on it so somebody kind of threw a shovel at me and said, 'Let's make sure she (the victim's wife) can get in and out.' So we got after it and started shoveling," he said.
Barbara Stroh lives next door to the victim and snapped a picture of the three deputies in action. The picture has gone viral on social media.
"Unrequested, they shoveled the walks even came here to borrow a shovel. I thought it was wonderful. They get a bad rap and they're excellent out here, I love Jeffco," said Stroh. "They didn't have to do it."
The deputies were happy to know how appreciated their efforts are.
"To hear the public come out and appreciate what we did that makes us feel a lot better in law enforcement," said Deputy Dillman.
"A majority of the time you only hear the negative things. For people to actually appreciate what you're doing feels pretty good," said Deputy Springfield.
Despite the good deed, Deputy Springfield got in a bit of trouble when his wife found the picture on Facebook and asked how he had the time to shovel a stranger's driveway but not his own. Of course she was joking and said she's glad he could help out a family in need.
Jeff Todd joined the CBS4 team in 2011 covering the Western Slope in the Mountain Newsroom. Since 2015 he's been working across the Front Range in the Denver Headquarters. Follow him on Twitter @CBS4Jeff.
