Last week, Deputy Hopkins and Sgt. D.C. Reed were the first to the scene of a cardiac arrest at a residence in the southern end of the county. When they arrived, they found an unconscious 20-year-old who wasn’t breathing and had no pulse. At the same time, Deputy Dominquez arrived and he quickly retrieved an AED from his cruiser. They then deployed the AED and performed CPR. Not long afterwards, the young man was breathing and had a pulse again. Deputies continued to render aid until paramedics arrived and took over. The young man survived and is doing well.

The situation could have ended much differently if not for the skill and professionalism of these men. The incident is a poignant reminder of why we equip our deputies with the life-saving tools and training necessary to make a difference in emergencies.