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Lebanon police chief honors resident and officers for lifesaving actions
Summary
Police Chief Kevin Hassett presented a lifesaving award to resident William Gagan and recognized two officers for separate Jan. 24, 2026 incidents in extreme cold that, the chief said, "clearly saved someone's life."
Police Chief Kevin Hassett presented formal lifesaving awards at the Feb. 11 Lebanon City Council meeting for actions taken during dangerous weather on Jan. 24, 2026.
Chief Hassett said the first incident began shortly before 1 a.m., when a resident reported hearing someone screaming for help. Officers located an elderly woman on a sidewalk who was nearly unresponsive and suffering from exposure. "You heard something. You did something," Hassett said of William Gagan, the resident being recognized, adding that Gagans quick actions and officers' prompt response "saved someone's life."
Hassett also recognized two officers who responded to a separate late-night call in which two people were found walking in the roadway, one of whom was unconscious in the snow and at risk of hypothermia. The officers transported one person to a local inn for warming and arranged medical care for the other; the chief said weather and road conditions made ambulance response uncertain and that the officers efforts prevented a potentially tragic outcome.
In presenting the recognitions, Hassett described the incidents as examples of "quick thinking and willingness to act" and said the officers' conduct brought credit to the Lebanon Police Department and the community.
The council acknowledged the presentations and invited those recognized to come forward for a formal presentation after the meeting.
