Mayor Peter Schwartzman presented the Life-Saving Award to Galesburg Police Lt. Steffanie Cromien, Lt. Jason Shaw and Officer Dan Williams before Monday’s City Council after their actions saved the life of a fellow officer last week.
Officer Chris Hootman was at home before going to work on Oct. 25, but called in sick.
Lt. Jason Shaw recognized Hootman’s symptoms as a cardiac event and called for an ambulance.
Officer Dan Williams responded to the house and decided to drive Hootman to the hospital instead of waiting for the ambulance.
Doctors at OSF St. Mary’s Medical Center confirmed Hootman was having a heart attack and called for an ambulance to transport him to Peoria.
However, it was too windy that day for an ambulance.
Lt. Steffanie Cromien was at work and heard what was going on. She offered to drive Chris’ wife, Amanda to Peoria so she wouldn’t have to drive distressed.
Cromien was several minutes behind the ambulance when on the way to Peoria an ambulance was pulled over on the shoulder.
The EMS Crew told her Hootman’s heart had stopped beating and he wasn’t breathing.
Croffein performed chest compressions with the EMS crew, prepared an IV medication and the defibrillator.
After CPR the EMS crew shocked Hootman’s heart and got a beat.
Cromien then drove the ambulance the rest of the way to Peoria.
When they arrived at OSF St. Francis’ doctors put a stint in Hootman’s heart and he went home the next day, and was present at City Hall Monday, only a week after the near-death incident .
Schwartzman read that Cromien was awarded the Life Saving Award for her “courageous actions and outstanding police performance”, and “demonstrated heroism”.
Officer Williams and Lt. Shaw were also awarded the Life Saving Award for their quick actions to save their fellow officer when seconds were paramount.
