Lifesaving Cranston Cop Recognized by NE Revolution

CRANSTON, RI—A Cranston police officer who saved two lives in one week last year has been recognized once again.

This time, the New England Revolution honored Officer Brenton Medeiros as the "Hero of the Match" at the soccer team's Aug. 13 home game against Philadelphia Union.

Medeiros was lauded during a pregame ceremony and got to enjoy a sideline view of the team's warmup and watch the game from the Putnam Club.

The "Hero of the Match" award honors a local first responder, member of the armed forces or someone who made a difference in the community.

Winners are nominated.

Mederios saved the life of a 20-year-old Cranston woman overdosing from heroin on April 1, 2015.

It was one of the first lives saved by a Rhode Island police officer equipped with the overdose-reversing drug, nalaxone.

The victim was found by her mother and Medeiros was first on scene after police were called and he saw the victim was unconscious with a faint pulse and labored breathing.

Recognizing the signs of a fatal overdose, Medeiros quickly injected the victim with his department-issued naloxone, which “sustained the victim’s vital signs until the arrival of the Cranston Fire Department,” said Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist.

For Medeiros, the saving of the young woman’s life came exactly a week after he saved the life of former Nortek CEO Richard Bready after a crash off Interstate 195 in East Providence.

Medeiros was on his way to work when he saw flames on a side street. He jumped a fence and ran to a burning SUV and pulled Bready from the vehicle shortly before it exploded and was completley engulfed in flames.

Medeiros, while deserving of praise, told reporters at the time that he was just doing his job and utilizing his training.

Medeiros was recognized earlier this year by the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund for his actions.