Coeur d'Alene Police Department honors service

COEUR d'ALENE - Police Chief Wayne Longo was surprised to be one of several Coeur d'Alene police officers honored with Lifesaving Awards Wednesday at Lake City High School.

Longo received the award during the Coeur d'Alene Police Department's annual ceremony honoring officers, civilian employees and citizen volunteers for outstanding professionalism and service to the community.

It's the second time Longo has been recognized for saving a life since joining the Coeur d'Alene Police Department.

"You know, you just do your job," he said. "You're not looking for thanks."

But, Longo said, it's important to recognize officers and staff members who are in the trenches, doing outstanding work for the citizens they serve.

Mayor Sandi Bloem was among dozens of citizens who attended the ceremony.

"I'm grateful for the culture they are building in the community, of going beyond the call of duty and acting with compassion," Bloem said.

The honors awarded Wednesday recognize distinguished service in 2012.

Longo received his award for responding to a call, while on his way to a meeting at City Hall. The call was for assistance involving "shots fired."

Longo and the patrol captain he was with were the first officers on the scene of an attempted suicide. The police chief spoke to the seriously injured man, assuring him he would be all right, and keeping the man still to prevent him from further injuring himself, while they waited for emergency medical personnel to arrive.

Longo stayed with the man, and as the injured individual was placed into an ambulance, the man grabbed Longo's hand and asked the police chief if he was going to die.

Longo responded, "No, not on my watch."

The emergency room doctor attributed the man's survival to Longo's actions.

Officers Eric Johnson, Lee Morgan and John Kelly also received the department's Lifesaving Award.

The officers were honored for their actions on Nov. 7, 2012, when an intoxicated woman taken into custody for a probation violation slumped over in the back seat of a patrol car and stopped breathing. She had no pulse. The officers worked together to quickly initiate CPR and within minutes the woman began to breathe again.

Additional 2012 award winners:

* Det. Jared Reneau, Officer of the Year

* Carmen LaRosa, Volunteer Member of the Year

* Lynda Klopatek, Non-sworn Member of the Year

* Officer Shane Avriett, Beyond the Traffic Stop Award from the Idaho Transportation Department Office of Highway Safety

* Report Writers: Amanda Mosser, Natalie West and Candice Rohrsheib; Letter of Commendation

* Report Writing Unit, Distinguished Unit Citation