Somerville Police, Housing Officers Honored For Saving Trucker

SOMERVILLE, MA — Two police officers and one housing officer received medals for their life-saving actions following a truck rollover in Somerville.

Housing Officer Billy Rymill alerted Officers Kevin Goulart and Justin Buswell to a trailer truck rollover in the Capen Court area around 1:50 p.m. on Jan. 19. The driver's cab had struck a tree and landed near the curb with extensive damage, police said.

Goulart climbed on top of the cabin and saw that the driver was trapped and bleeding from his head. He handed the driver bandages and told him to press them against his head to stop the bleeding, police said.

"Officer Goulart, observing the amount of blood loss, and also hearing observers yelling that the truck was starting to smoke, believed time was of the essence," Police Chief Charles Femino said in a statement.

Goulart used an emergency window puncher to break the back window and pull the driver from the cab. He was joined by Officers Buswell and Rymill, who helped move the driver away from the smoking truck.

Buswell provided medical aid to the driver, while Goulart assisted in managing traffic around the scene.

"The decisive actions of the above referenced officers, not only contributed to this life-saving event, but also exemplifies the long history of courage and professionalism within the Somerville Police Department," Femino said.

The officers were presented with the awards on Jan. 25.