Two people were presented civilian commendations for actions they took to comfort a child bicyclist in the Village of Westfield who got injured in a collision with a vehicle. The Westfield Police Department issued the commendations to Phin Rogers and Addison Luce, whom police say remained calm under pressure following the incident on Union Street during the afternoon of July 30th.
According to police, Rogers and Luce witnessed the incident, immediately came to the child's aid, and used the training and experience they had acquired as lifeguards during the village's Welch Field Program to provide care, comfort and reassurance to the victim. The two comforted the frightened child, shielded him from the sun with umbrellas, placed towels beneath his head for support, and respectfully covered his injured legs with a blanket while awaiting the arrival of emergency medical personnel. Recognizing the importance of emotional support, the two also used their familiarity with the child through the Welch Field Program to quickly contact the child's parent. Their efforts enabled the child to speak with a parent during a traumatic and frightening event while ensuring the family was promptly notified of the incident.
Westfield Police say the pair's selfless actions were performed without regard for personal recognition or reward, adding that their "initiative, sound judgment, compassion, and professionalism provided comfort and reassurance to an injured child during a critical incident and exemplify the highest ideals of community service, civic responsibility, and public service."
Photo by the Westfield Police Department
