Letter from Chief Alec Cooper, Ada Police Department:

On Tuesday February 21, 2023, the Ada Police Department will hold a special awards ceremony during the Ada Village Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building to recognize the lifesaving efforts of two Ada police officers, as well as two public safety officers from Ohio Northern University.

On Monday January 30, 2023, Sergeant John Iten and Patrolman Andrew Peterman responded to a single vehicle accident on West Lincoln Avenue in the Village of Ada. Upon arrival, the officers discovered a 62-year-old male was suffering from an apparent medical emergency, as they could not find any signs of life. With assistance from Ohio Northern University Public Safety Officers Garrett Molands and Amy Lutterbein, Ada officers broke the vehicle's passenger side window to gain access to the male who was seated in the driver’s seat with the doors locked. They utilized a department-issued automated external defibrillator, AED, to shock the male. Their team performed CPR until the male could be transported to the hospital.

On February 14, 2023, I was able to speak with the male and his wife via phone call, and he is expected to make a 100% recovery from this incident.

The American Heart Association says once a person has progressed into cardiac defibrillation, their chance at survival is reduced by 10% for every minute that passes without CPR. The quick response of these officers without a doubt saved this man’s life.