6 Hillsborough Officers Honored For Heroic, Lifesaving Efforts

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Six Hillsborough Township Police Officers were honored for stepping into action and administering CPR to save three people in the township.

Dillon Kelly, Joesph Desmond, Dennis Rivera, John A. Johnson, Christopher Michaels, and Tyler Ott were all honored with the Hillsborough Police Department CPR Lifesaving Award for being instrumental in reviving the victims.

The awards were presented by Mayor Shawn Lipani and Police Chief Mike McMahon during the Tuesday night committee meeting.

On June 6, 2020 at 6:45 a.m., Officer Kelly got a call of an unconscious man at the Roycebrook Golf Club. Kelly began CPR until EMS arrived and the man had a pulse and was breathing on his own when Kelly left.

The man Kelly saved, John McDonald, said he went to play golf that morning and didn't feel a thing.

"The next thing I knew I woke up in the hospital," said McDonald, who is retired NYPD Detective.

"More than anything I know what it means, especially for someone to do what he did. He was on his way home, he could've easily gone home. He heard the call and came back. I greatly appreciate it and we will be forever friends," said McDonald.

Officers Desmond and Rivera were honored for their efforts on Feb. 27, 2020, when they were called to the home for an unresponsive resident with CPR in progress by a family member. The officers immediately took over CPR when no pulse was detected.

The officers attached a defibrillator and began rescue breathing and compressions. The victim began to move and breathe on their own and was sent to a hospital.

Officers Johnson, Michaels, and Ott were honored for their efforts on Feb. 1, 2020 where they were called to the home of a 76-year-old unresponsive woman with CPR in progress.

The officers immediately took over CPR and used a defibrillator. They continued the lifesaving efforts for 14 minutes until EMS arrived. The woman regained a pulse and was taken to a hospital and has since been discharged.

All of the officers were honored for their valiant actions which serve as an example of the highest standards of the Hillsborough Township Police Department through their heroism and willingness to help others, said McMahon.

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