New Officer Receives Life-Saving Award

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023

Officer Jennifer Nunez didn't wait long before having a positive impact on Dalton. The new officer wasn't even out of the Dalton Police Department's Field Training Program yet when she performed CPR on a man during an emergency call, helping to save his life. Nunez was honored Tuesday morning with the department's Life Saving Award for her efforts. 

Caption: Assistant Chief Chris Crossen presents Officer Jennifer Nunez with the DPD's Life Saving Award

The incident happened on July 16th, 2023, less than two months after Nunez joined the police department. Nunez and her field training officer were sent to a call of a man who was unresponsive in his front yard. When they arrived, they found the man laying on the ground unconscious and not breathing. Officer Nunez immediately assessed the patient and began performing CPR. 

"As we know in CPR, the earlier you get that process started, the better the chances of that person surviving are," Assistant Chief Chris Crossen said Tuesday while presenting the award. "Because of her actions that day, and then passing that off to the more advanced medical care when EMS arrived, they were able to bring a pulse back."

"Without a doubt, her field training officer feels that her steps that day and beginning that quickly and her quick actions... led directly to the preservation of life," Crossen continued. 

In a letter of commendation for Officer Nunez, Chief Cliff Cason noted that her actions "reinforce the values and mission of our department in that we aim every day to provide a safe environment with professional quality police service." 

Receiving the Life Saving Award continues what has already been a monumental week in Nunez's young law enforcement career - she completed field training and earned solo status as a patrol officer just two days ago.