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Life Saving Incident

November 23, 2020
Massachusetts
Berkshire County
Adams

On November 28, 2020, Officer Samantha Morin was recognized for her actions that saved the life of a stabbing victim. A letter of commendation from Police Sgt. Dylan Hicks to the Board of Selectmen was read aloud by Chairwoman Christine Hoyt. "This is my deepest and most profound admiration, that I must willingly and gladly write to the select board, a letter of commendation for officer Samantha Morin and request that she be formally recognized for her heroic actions on Nov. 23, 2020," Hoyt read. "As a police officer for the town of Adams, in the field training program, she responded to a call for service to the stabbing and provided extraordinary life-saving measures in the form of medical aid to the victim." Morin was sworn in as an officer in September after having served in the Army and with U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The assault was reported about 11:20 and Morin responded with Officers Travis Cunningham and Michael Rossi. They found the victim had been severely slashed with a knife and immediately rendered aid. As a rookie officer, Morin showed a high level of poise and control over the situation and the "ability to perform under immense pressure and stress." She applied the combat application tourniquet, or CAT, from her duty belt to the victim's upper arm to staunch the life-threatening loss of blood. She continued to provide aid while awaiting ambulance personnel and securing the scene. After speaking to the training officer, Cunningham, Rossi, the emergency medical service and Berkshire Medical Center doctors, it was confirmed that Morin's action alone of applying a tourniquet preserved the victim's life. "The failure to act or delayed action both definitely could have led to tragic outcome," Hoyt read. Her exemplary actions reflected well on herself, the force and the town of Adams, Hicks wrote.

The history of law enforcement in the United States is a long and wonderful history of bravery. This website is dedicated to documenting the heroic deeds of law enforcement officers throughout the United States who have either given or risked their lives to save others. There are many stories of bravery and heroism for many who are considered first responders. However, it is those in law enforcement who are most likely to be the first to arrive upon a location requiring life saving acts engaging dangerous hostage takers, running into burning buildings/vehicles, providing first aid to seriously injured victims, saving near drowning victims and much more are what the women and men of law enforcement do routinely and at many times, great peril to their own safety.
It is our mission to document the history of lives saved by those dedicated women and men in law enforcement. To share with others the dramatic deeds of those individuals who are the first, first responders. It is so important for our citizens to understand that law "enforcement" is not always about enforcing the law but rather being there when our citizens need us.
It is to this end we are dedicated to promoting documentation regarding the history of law enforcement and the lives they have saved.