Belvidere honors officers, firefighters after March cardiac arrest rescue

Belvidere officials recognized police and fire personnel for coordinated life‑saving actions during a March 26 cardiac arrest, presenting certificates and ribbons at the May 27 city council meeting.

Chiefs from the police and fire departments described the incident: officers arrived and initiated or continued CPR, responders used defibrillation several times, the fire department deployed advanced airway and medication through intraosseous access, and ambulance crews used a LUCAS mechanical compression device before transporting the patient to UW Health in Belvidere. According to staff, spontaneous circulation returned and the patient later recovered and was discharged.

The survivor, Mike Papalik, said he suffered a heart attack in a restaurant on March 26 and credited Officer Gibson's immediate actions with saving his life: "If Officer Gibson hadn't been there, I wouldn't be here." Chiefs presented life‑saving awards to officers Matthew Korn and Matthew Gibson and to firefighters and paramedics (Matt Loudenbeck, Lieutenant Tangi, Rasmus Gotcha, Lauren Schultz and others). The council and audience applauded and several elected officials expressed pride in the first responders' teamwork.

The presentation included a detailed timeline of interventions, including placement of a LUCAS automated CPR device, multiple defibrillations, establishment of IO access to deliver medications and an immediate post‑return 12‑lead EKG to assess need for higher‑level cardiac care.

The council cited the event as an example of city responders' training and coordination and thanked donors who supported equipment and K9 care.