Weymouth Resident Recounts Officer Chesna Saving Her Life

WEYMOUTH, MA — People from within and outside the Weymouth community came to the memorial at the police station Monday to pay their respects to Officer Michael Chesna, who was tragically shot and killed Sunday. For Eva Santos, though, it was about more than simply paying respect. This was about a final "thank you."

When Santos suffered a seizure at work last December, Chesna was there. She said Chesna walked her through the ordeal and stayed with her until the ambulance arrived.

"He was very comforting," Santos said. "I remember the touch he gave me when he said everything was going to be okay. A nice soft, comforting touch."

Santos was in disbelief when she heard Chesna was killed.

Her son Matthew said he never met the officer, but wishes he had the chance to meet the man who saved his mother's life.

"When she [his mother] told me, it was upsetting because I never got a chance to thank him for saving my mom's life," Matthew Santos said. "It's sad, especially for his kids."

Kelsey Kurdilla, who lives with both Eva and Matthew Santos, expressed the same sadness.

"We wish we could go back to say thank you to him," said Kurdilla. "We feel bad because he has two little kids and we don't know was it their last kiss goodbye to him or if they even got to kiss him goodbye."

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• Weymouth Officer Was Shot 10 Times By Alleged Killer: PD Report

Photo by James Bentley for Patch