MANSFIELD, Ohio – Three troopers from the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol were recognized Nov. 4 for lifesaving actions they performed to save two citizens in Richland County.
Troopers Matthew Stoffer, Stephen Gillum and Drew Nelson performed admirably responding to two separate September incidents in Richland County, saving the lives of two citizens. On Wednesday, Maj. Chad McGinty of the Ohio State Highway Patrol praised the three troopers for their actions.
“You guys had an opportunity to make the badge shine a little brighter, and you seized that opportunity,” said McGinty. “None of you did what you did that day expecting to be here today. You did it because that’s who you are, and that’s how you’re made. I couldn’t be any more proud of what you’ve done.”
The first incident occurred on Sept. 21, when the Mansfield dispatch center received a call of a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed with its hazards on. Trooper Stoffer responded to the vehicle, and upon seeing the Highway Patrol vehicle the driver pulled to the side of the road on his own and yelled to Stoffer that his infant daughter was unresponsive in the rear seat.
According to Lt. Matt Them of the Mansfield Post, Stoffer found a 1-year-old female unresponsive, and promptly removed the infant from the rear seat of the vehicle to begin CPR. Stoffer also called for EMS assistance at that time.
“As he picked up the lifeless baby from the child seat and placed it on the front seat, he swept the baby’s mouth thinking possibly the baby was choking and started chest compressions,” said Them. “At that point the baby began to breathe on its own, which it was not previously. The parents advised the baby was sick and became unresponsive and they were trying to get to the hospital.”
Mifflin Township EMS arrived on scene and transported the infant to Mansfield OhioHealth Hospital, where she was flown to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. The infant survived the incident.
“All I can say is my training kicked in,” said Stoffer. “It’s something I’ll carry with me the rest of my life.”
Stoffer was presented with a certificate of recognition from the colonel of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
“This child, who will probably never know your name, owes her life to you,” said Capt. David Church with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. “You took your training and you implemented it. You stayed calm and you did what you had to get done. You made us all proud, anybody who wears a police uniform.”
The second incident deserving of recognition occurred on Sept. 3, when Troopers Gillum and Nelson responded to a request for assistance from the Mansfield Police Department in responding to a possible suicide call. Mansfield Police Chief Ken Coontz and Deputy Chief Keith Porch were present on Wednesday to recognize Gillum and Nelson.
“This is a good example of agencies working together. We appreciate your trust in our agency and passing that call along,” said McGinty to Coontz and Porch. “We sent some of our finest and it worked out.”
The caller who reported the possible suicide stated they had read on social media that a male was threatening to hang himself. According to Them, Troopers Gillum and Nelson arrived on scene and spoke with an elderly female, who advised she was the only person at the residence.
“Trooper Gillum asked if they could check inside the residence and the homeowner agreed, though nobody was found in the residence,” said Them. “Trooper Gillum asked if he could check the attached garage, and the homeowner stated her grandson would not be out there but agreed to let them check.”
Upon entering the garage, Gillum and Nelson found a male hanging from the rafters in the rear corner of the structure. Them stated the troopers lifted the male and Nelson cut the cords around the individual’s neck. The troopers then requested EMS and attempted to revive the male, who was unresponsive at that time.
“The male eventually did regain consciousness, and was transported to the hospital for evaluation,” said Them. “The male survived the incident due to Trooper Nelson and Trooper Gillum’s quick action.”
“There were several times during this incident they could have abandoned the search, but they kept on and were persistent and professional, and they did exactly what we needed them to do,” added Church.
Troopers Gillum and Nelson were each presented with the governor’s resolution in recognition of their lifesaving actions.
“These are the type of actions that we are very proud of; it’s inspiring when we have officers that go above and beyond the call of duty,” said Church to the three troopers. “All three of you made us proud.”
