Young Arrestee Lauded For Saving Cop's Life

A fast-thinking juvenile offender is being heralded as a hero after he stepped in to save a Fort Lauderdale police officer who faced a life-threatening medical emergency.

The teen, Jamal Rutledge, and three Fort Lauderdale police officers are receiving public recognition from the City Commission on Jan. 21.

The incident that sparked the recognition took place Sept. 10 as Officer Franklin Foulks was attempting to process Rutledge into the Fort Lauderdale Booking Facility. As he was handling the paperwork, Foulks, a department media release stated, collapsed.

Rutledge wasted no time in coming to Foulks’ aid, the department noted.

He “immediately began to kick the security fence and yell to alert officers in the area,” the release stated.

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The ruckus Rutledge was able to create caught the attention of Sgt. Todd Bunin who rushed to the area to find Foulks semiconscious, clutching at his chest. Bunin notified police dispatch and then began to remove Foulks’ gear. At that point, Officers Robert Norvis and Raymond Ketchmark arrived on the scene.

As Norvis administered CPR, Ketchmark used an Automated External Defibrillator to stimulate Foulks’ heart, the department said.

“Broward Health Medical Staff noted that Rutledge’s actions and the quick response of these officers were largely responsible for Officer Foulks surviving this medical episode,” the release stated.

City officials plan to honor the four at their next commission meeting.

As a juvenile, Rutledge’s offense was not made known to the public.

Photo courtesy of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department