Freehold Police Officers Honored With Life-Saving Awards

FREEHOLD BOROUGH, NJ — Officers from the Freehold Borough and Freehold Township police departments were recently honored with Life Saving Awards after they helped save people suffering cardiac episodes.

At the Freehold Borough Mayor & Council meeting on Monday, Freehold Borough Police Officers Michael Crawford and Ian Crawford were presented with Life Saving Awards alongside Freehold Township Police Officer Bethany Feinstein.

According to Freehold Borough Police Chief Christopher Colaner, the first incident occurred on Feb. 11, when Officer Michael Crawford responded to a 911 call at Living Springs Church, where a parishioner had suffered a cardiac episode.

Once he arrived at the scene, Chief Colaner said Crawford immediately began CPR, applied AED pads, and continued CPR until EMS and paramedics arrived.

“The swift, decisive, and highly professional actions of Officer Crawford led to the victim regaining their pulse at the scene, and ultimately making a full recovery,” Colaner said. “In recognition of his exceptional performance, rapid response, and life-saving efforts, Officer Crawford is hereby awarded the Life Saving Award.”

David Locke, the man whom Crawford helped save, also spoke at the meeting about the incident at Living Springs Church, saying Crawford’s arrival wasn’t luck, but rather, divine timing.

"We were literally in the middle of a prayer meeting," Locke said. "I guess if there's any time to drop dead, that's a good place."

As soon as Locke had fallen, he said the hands of those who were there went to heaven in prayer for him. He went on to say that the heavenly father had grace on his life, as Crawford was right at the intersection by the church when he collapsed.

“He [Crawford] came sprinting in,” Locke said. “And there’s a woman that was at that prayer meeting that totally believes he was an angel who was sent down to save my life. And I totally believe that.”

Not long after Crawford’s arrival, Locke said the EMS team came to help, and he’s since made a full recovery.

He went on to thank Crawford and say a thank you prayer at the meeting, telling Mayor Kevin Kane and the Borough Council that they’ve “got a great team in Freehold.”

In addition to Officer Michael Crawford, Officer Ian Crawford and Freehold Township Officer Bethany Feinstein were also presented with Life Saving Awards for an incident that happened in May.

On May 3, Colaner said Crawford and Feinstein responded to a 911 call at the Radisson Hotel, where a wedding guest had suffered a cardiac episode.

According to Colaner, the pair arrived simultaneously at the hotel and immediately administered CPR and deployed an AED, leading the victim to regain a pulse at the scene and make a full recovery.

“In recognition of their exceptional performance, rapid response, and life-saving efforts, Officer Crawford and Officer Feinstein are hereby awarded the Life Saving Award,” Colaner said. “Their dedication to duty and their unwavering commitment to preserving life exemplify the highest standards of law enforcement service.”

After Crawford and Feinstein were presented with their awards, Courtney Pennock, whom the pair saved, thanked them as well, adding that because of their efforts, she was able to survive the cardiac episode, despite being out for 14 minutes.

“I was actually the maid of honor at the wedding [at the Radisson Hotel],” Pennock said. “I was dancing, and then I just collapsed. And here I am! …I am forever grateful.”

Following the award presentations, Mayor Kane thanked those involved in the incidents for attending the meeting and thanked Freehold's emergency services for “everything that you all do.”

“Freehold Borough, Freehold Township – we have some great emergency services, police, fire, EMS, second to none,” Kane said. “We put them up against anybody, but this just proves how great they are.”

To watch a full recording of Monday’s Mayor & Council meeting, you can watch here: