Grand Forks Police Department recognizes officer who saved child from choking, others in annual ceremony
Dec. 16—GRAND FORKS — Sgt. Danny Pemberton had just arrived home when a child next door ran over, saying his friend was choking on a piece of candy.
"Sgt. Pemberton jumped into action," Police Chief Mark Nelson said.
Pemberton successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver, and stayed with the child — Jaxton Boespflug — to make sure he was OK.
Nine months later, Pemberton accepted a Lifesaving Award with Boespflug by his side. The Boespflug family was also in attendance.
The Grand Forks Police Department Awards Ceremony was held on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 15.
Ofc. Savannah Nagle received the Altru Hospital Stork Pin, an award given to members of law enforcement who assist with delivering a baby before EMT arrival.
In January, still in the first phase of her field training program, Nagle and her field training officers responded to a call of a woman having contractions.
When officers arrived on the scene, the baby was crowning. Altru paramedics arrived afterwards and prepared for the baby's birth, with Nagle's assistance.
"Their quick actions resulted in the successful birth of a baby girl," Nelson said.
The Sgt. Wayne 'Andy' Anderson Meritorious Service Award was given to Lt. Dwight Love. The award honors a member of law enforcement for their courage, dedication and loyalty.
"He goes above and beyond his availability," Nelson said.
Love has been with the Grand Forks Police Department since the 1990s.
"He was always able to get it done, and it was always done at the speed of 'Dwight'," said Nelson. "It is actually a unit of measurement for our department."
The Medal of Valor was awarded to Cpl. Adam Solar and the Medal of Merit was awarded to Ofc. Jakob Metzig. The two men broke a window for a man trapped in a burning building so he was able to breathe fresh air before the fire department's arrival. They also assisted in extracting him from the building once firefighters arrived.
Fire Apparatus Specialist Michael Coxe received an appreciation award for responding to a car accident while off-duty, providing vital first-hand information to emergency personnel.
Appreciation awards also went to Dr. Patrick Moore, Roger Brockmeyer, Elton Hendrickson, Ilene Sherlock and Robert Messelt who are affiliated with Homeless Helpers in Grand Forks.
"They are able to offer a temporary safe place to stay for those who come into the community and have nowhere to go," said Nelson. "This has undoubtedly saved lives and allowed those in need to be sheltered when they did not qualify for other means of assistance."
Other Lifesaving Awards were given to Ofc. Alan Gilbertson, Cpl. Jesse Younggren, Sgt. Preston Engstrom, Ofc. James Opp, Cpl. Eric Hamilton, Ofc. Jakob Metzig, Sgt. Preston Engstrom, Cpl. Adam Solar, Ofc. Douglas Henning and UND Sgt. Shawn Thompson.
