Leetsdale officials recognized one of their borough police officers for his life-saving efforts earlier this year.
Mayor Sandra Ford presented police Sgt. Mike Slawianowski with a certificate of appreciation on May 14.
He was one of four emergency responders to act quickly during a medical emergency and vehicle crash in Bell Acres.
A woman had crashed her SUV into a trailer in the lot of the former Berkeys, narrowly missing Police Chief Kristoffer Korol’s police car shortly after 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 24.
Korol was monitoring traffic in the area at the time. Leet Police Chief Brian Jameson and Fair Oaks Assistant Fire Chief Jacob Mosholder also responded.
The driver, a Leet resident, had become unresponsive.
All four worked in tandem to perform CPR and used an automated external defibrillator.
They were able to restore the woman’s pulse and partial breathing, and continued medical treatment until EMS arrived.
Medics were able to get the woman’s breathing under control. She was transported to an area hospital and later recovered.
“Due to the group efforts, they were able to save the life of the driver,” Ford said. “We are very fortunate to have an officer such as Sgt. Slawianowski in Leetsdale.”
The sergeant said he was familiar with the other officers, having worked with them in Ambridge before coming to Leetsdale.
“We’ve all worked with each other for years,” said Slawianowski. “Everybody’s training just kicked in. We all did our thing and worked very well together and immediately were able to administer aid.”
Slawianowski said he was also familiar with the victim, who was a relative’s neighbor.
Several other officers, including at least one from Sewickley, came to the Leetsdale meeting to support Slawianowski.
“It was a big honor,” he said. “It was very appreciated, very nice of them, I thought.”
Korol, Jameson and Mosholder were all recognized by their respective municipalities earlier this year.
