Police officer saves gunshot victim's life
CRANBERRY TWP — A police officer was honored Thursday night for keeping a cool head and using his training to save a life.
Cranberry Township Police Officer Joshua Shimko received the Life Saving Award from the Cranberry board of supervisors for his efforts to save a man who was shot in August.
On the evening of Aug. 7, Shimko responded to a home on Marshall Road for a report of a shooting and found a man lying on the ground covered in blood. Witnesses confirmed the man had been shot.
Shimko applied a tourniquet that all Cranberry Police officers keep with them while on duty and turned it until the blood stopped flowing. Even after the medics arrived on scene, he continued to help with care of the victim, Richard Hadley, chairman of the board of supervisors, said.
The next day, Police Chief Kevin Meyer was told Shimko's proper use of the tourniquet saved the victim's life.
“This is what we do every day,” Shimko said as he accepted the award. “We don't do this for thanks. I just happened to be the first one on scene. Anyone who puts this uniform on does the same thing.”
A full report will appear in the Butler Eagle.
