Leitchfield Police Officer Chase Melton received a Lifesaving Award at Monday night’s Leitchfield City Council meeting for saving the life of a would-be suicide victim.
On May 11, 2016, at 11:53 a.m., Officer Melton was dispatched to a residence on Claggett Drive where a man had intentionally cut himself several times with a knife.
Upon Officers Melton and Jeff Helvey arriving at the home, they discovered that the man had “allegedly and intentionally cut himself on his wrists, causing major damage to a large vein with what was described as a large serrated knife” according to the commendation. The wound was bleeding profusely.
Officer Melton, seeing the wound bleeding heavily, “took lifesaving measures by making a tourniquet out of a belt that was found at the scene, and used the improvised tourniquet to control the bleeding.”
“Officer Melton’s quick action was undoubtedly vital in lifesaving efforts before EMS arrived” on the scene, the commendation said.
“Officer Melton’s lifesaving efforts are a great credit to himself, the Leitchfield Police Department, the city of Leitchfield, and the citizens of Grayson County,” the award stated.
Officer Melton, who has been with the Leitchfield Police Department for nearly four years, along with his wife Kayla, accepted the award from LPD Captain Brandon Cook and Chief Bryan Langdon.
(Headline photo: Officer Chase Melton and his wife Kayla)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
