Trooper Receives Medal For Saving Driver's Life Following Waterford Crash

MERIDEN, CT - Connecticut State Police said a trooper has been awarded for his quick actions following a serious crash in Waterford. At a ceremony Wednesday at the State Police Training Academy in Meriden, State Police Troopers and others received awards for service in Troop C, D, E and K area towns.

The Connecticut State Police honors troopers who demonstrate exceptional service in the line of duty. The ceremony also honors men and women serving in local and federal law enforcement agencies, those serving as first responders and civilians, according to a release. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Award winners received medals and certificates from Commissioner Dora B. Schriro and State Police
Colonel Alaric J. Fox. Governor Dannel Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman also attended and addressed
the recipients.

Awards were presented in seven categories:

• The Medal for Bravery is awarded to a Trooper who demonstrates exceptional heroism in the performance of duty while exposed to life-threatening danger.
• The Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to those who render service with a high degree of alertness, perseverance and superior judgment in the performance of a difficult task resulting in the protection of life, recovery of property, the prevention of – or solving of – a major crime or the apprehension of an armed or dangerous person.
• The Lifesaving Award is presented to those who save a human life or make a valiant attempt to save a life.
• The Outstanding Service Award is given to those who successfully perform an extreme, complex or difficult investigation. The Trooper may demonstrate exceptional skill or ingenuity in the apprehension of a wanted person, provide outstanding service to the public and/or continuously achieve excellence in performance over an extended period of time.
• The Unit Citation is awarded to members of a department, a command or group who combine their resources to achieve success in an investigation or event. The citation recognizes exceptional collective efforts.
• The Commissioner’s Recognition Award is presented by the agency commissioner to a person who has been instrumental in helping the State Police accomplish their job of public safety for all. This is generally presented to civilians (non-law enforcement).
• The Trooper James W. Lambert Award is presented to any person under age 21 who has exhibited exceptional courage and extraordinary decision making. The award is named for Trooper Lambert, who was killed in the line of duty on October 29, 1960.

Trooper First Class Joshua Chivers was awarded for his actions on December 3, 2016, at 8:24 p.m., when Troop E received a 911 call reporting a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 395 southbound in Waterford.

State police said Chivers responded and located a female operator unconscious and slumped across the front seat. After finding no pulse on the woman, Chivers pulled her from the wreckage and began CPR.

He then provided care until emergency medical technicians arrived and transported the woman to a local hospital. After several days of advanced medical care, the woman recovered from her injuries.

The quick thinking and immediate response of Trooper Chivers saved the life of the operator. His actions are in the highest tradition of the Connecticut State Police, for which he earned the Medal for Lifesaving.

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