Manhattan Police Officers Credited For Helping Save Woman's Life

MANHATTAN, IL — Three Manhattan police officers were recognized at Tuesday's Manhattan Village Board of Trustees meeting for their roles in helping save a woman's life.

Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen presented police officers Rob Bernardy, Alex Raske and Jim Redlich each with a Letter of Commendation for their quick actions when they found a woman unresponsive in her vehicle Sept. 2.

Officer Redlich responded to the call of a suspicious vehicle shortly after midnight, where he found it in the middle of the road with the lights on and engine running. Redlich saw the woman lose consciousness, and he quickly called for additional officers and an ambulance.

Raske and Bernardy arrived on the scene and, based on their experience, suspected the woman had overdosed. The trio worked together to administer several doses of Narcan, but the woman remained unresponsive.

The officers removed her from her vehicle, placed her on the ground and administered two more doses of the drug before she finally began to regain consciousness.

The woman was the taken to a hospital, where staff there said the officers' quick actions "likely saved the patient's life," according to a copy of the Letter of Commendation.

The woman is believed to have had a bad interaction to medications that were prescribed to her by a doctor, and she is not believed to have overdosed on any illegal substance, according to Manhattan Police Chief Jeff Wold. Because no crime took place, police are not releasing the name or any other identifying information of the woman.

"The compassion, dedication, and professionalism displayed by these three officers brings credit to themselves and the Village of Manhattan Police Department," the letter reads. "They are to be commended for taking life-saving actions during adverse conditions.

"Job well done, thank you!"

Redlich is a veteran on the Manhattan PD, having been an officer for about eight years, Wold said. Raske and Bernardy are both newer members, each still going through their probationary period with the force, though they both have previous law enforcement experience from other agencies.

"I think they did an excellent job, and I'm glad they had the opportunity to provide treatment for the woman," Wold said. "I'm glad she was able to make a recovery."