Charlestown honors cardiac-arrest survivors and names part-time EMA director

CHARLESTOWN, R.I. — The Charlestown Town Council on May 27 presented proclamations honoring bystanders, dispatchers, police, firefighters and EMS personnel who helped resuscitate two people after cardiac arrests and publicly welcomed Chief Scott Cattell as the town's part-time emergency-management director.

Mayor and council members read proclamations recognizing two separate incidents: an Aug. 20, 2024 cardiac arrest at Burlingame State Park and a March 13, 2025 cardiac arrest at a private residence. The town credited early recognition, prompt 911 activation, bystander CPR, dispatcher instruction and coordinated response by police, fire and rescue units for both successful outcomes.

Charlestown Ambulance Rescue Services Chief Andrew Kettle described the incidents and listed the individuals the town honored, including callers, 911 call takers and the officers and firefighters who provided CPR and advanced care on scene. The town read the names of callers such as Barbara Bergen; call takers including Chrissy Allen and Jenna Cardello; local dispatchers Kevin Warsham and Jenny Peterson; and numerous first responders and EMTs who were present at the meetings to accept proclamations.

In a separate personnel announcement, Town Administrator Jeff Allen reported that he had offered the EMA-director position to Chief Scott Cattell on Feb. 13. Chief Cattell, who retired as a fire chief in North Kingstown and previously served as EMA director in Exeter (2007'10) and North Kingstown (2017' 2025), accepted a part-time appointment. Allen said Cattell holds a master's degree in emergency management, a BS in public administration, an AAS in fire science and is certified to NIMS 800 through FEMA.

Chief Cattell told the council he plans to emphasize team-based coordination across police, fire and town staff to prepare for summer events and storm seasons, and to prioritize resident safety. The council did not record a separate vote to confirm the appointment at this meeting; Allen characterized the selection as an administrative hiring decision that the town administrator completed earlier in the year.

The council approved the proclamations recognizing the two resuscitations by unanimous voice vote. The proclamations note that the two survivors have returned to their normal activities of daily living and praise the "chain of survival" from early recognition through post-cardiac-arrest care.