Hero Farmington Hills Officers Recognized

From left, Officers Lindsey South and Brian Rohrer are pictured with Dr. Steven McGraw of the Oakland County Medical Control Authority. Not pictured is Officer Nicholas West. (Photo submitted)

• Get the free daily Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch newsletter and news alerts and like us on Facebook.

Three Farmington Hills police officers were honored last week for quick action that saved the life of a motorist who crashed his vehicle into a utility pole after experiencing a medical emergency on Aug. 24.

James Ellis had suffered a heart attack while driving, lost control of his vehicle and it struck the pole on Orchard Lake Road. When police arrived, the motor of his vehicle was still running, it was still in gear and its wheels were spinning at a high rate of speed. Ellis was slumped over and unresponsive. His skin was beginning to turn blue.

Officers broke the window to his vehicle and began doing CPR. All Farmington Hills police vehicles are equipped with automatic external defibrillators (AED), and police used the device to shock Ellis twice.

He regained his pulse, but was barely breathing. Paramedics protected his airway by intubating him, and increased his blood pressure with with intravenous fluid. He was transported to Beaumont Hospital - Farmington Hills, where he was treated. After a few days, he was released from the hospital.

Earlier this year, Ellis credited the officers with saving his life.