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Saving lives in Orange Date published: 7/12/2009
On Feb. 17, an hour into his shift on his first day of work as a Town of Orange police officer, David Richardson heard a radio call that a man was unconscious and not breathing.
When Richardson arrived at the scene, he found retired Judge Lloyd Sullenberger unresponsive. Richardson performed CPR until the Orange County Rescue Squad arrived. The judge was flown to the University of Virginia Medical Center. He passed away the next day. "Officer Richardson brought Judge Sullenberger back to life," said Orange Police Chief Jim Fenwick. "He was breathing and had a pulse and was able to be taken to the hospital for advanced medical care." Richardson, an experienced officer from Northumberland County, had used CPR only once before in his career, but his knowledge of the life-saving chest compressions and assisted breathing would continue to be useful. In April, Richardson responded to an accident on Madison Road, caused when the driver, Wylie Herndon, had a heart attack. Jamie Colvin, an employee of the nearby CVS, and a second person started CRP, which Richardson continued until the rescue squad arrived. Herndon, a local surveyor, was flown to U.Va. hospital and survived. Colvin, an off-duty firefighter, received a Police Commendation Award for his lifesaving efforts. On May 23, Richardson's lifesaving skills would be called upon again, this time to restart the heart of Mae Miller, who had fallen in a courtyard near her home and was unconscious with no pulse. The efforts of Richardson and Orange County Rescue Squad members allowed Miller to be transported the U.Va. hospital where she died several days later, according to Fenwick. "Over just a few months Officer Richardson was instrumental in giving three of our citizens the opportunity to receive advanced medical care," Fenwick said. Richardson, who was called "heroic" by Fenwick, was given three lifesaving awards and a Meritorious Service Medal by the police department at a ceremony last month. "I'm grateful, but I don't feel I need an award," Richardson said in an interview. "I was doing my job. Helping people is why I'm a police officer--and I can activate the blue lights and get there faster."
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