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Riverview honors officers, firefighters for January life‑saving response
Summary
At its April 7 meeting the Riverview City Council recognized a police officer and four firefighters for performing life‑saving care in a January emergency in Park East; the council also noted the recent death of a former fire chief.
Riverview on April 7 recognized police Officer Jonathan Garcia and fire personnel for emergency care that council presenters said helped a man survive a January cardiac event in the Park East area.
Council presenters said the incident occurred on Jan. 11, when Officer Jonathan Garcia arrived at a Park East scene and found a man unresponsive after an apparent heart attack. Presenters said Garcia applied an automated external defibrillator, administered a shock when the device indicated it, and performed CPR until the Fire Department took over. Fire Sergeant Brian Davenport and Firefighters Alan Cast (name spelled variously in the record), Joseph Strassner and Alyssa Kowalski were named along with Garcia for their roles. According to presenters at the meeting, the patient survived.
The recognition came during the Riverview City Council meeting called to order at 7 p.m. April 7. Presenters gave life‑saving awards to Officer Jonathan Garcia and to Fire Sergeant Brian Davenport and Firefighters Alan Cast, Joseph Strassner and Alyssa Kowalski. The council acknowledged that, per the presenters, coordinated use of an AED and CPR by police and fire personnel contributed to the positive outcome.
Also during the same portion of the meeting the council noted the recent death of former Fire Chief Bob Hale; the mayor asked that attendees keep Hale's family in their prayers. Presenters and council members offered brief remarks of thanks to the award recipients and to current department personnel for public‑safety work.
The presenters included an anecdote about a seasonal promotional skeleton on display at the fire station that staff maintain; presenters said Firefighter Alan Cast had been responsible for current seasonal decorations. No formal action or vote was taken on the recognitions, which were presented as part of awards and proclamations.
The awards and recognition were the main public‑safety items on the April 7 agenda; the meeting then moved to routine business and public comments.
