Friday was a big day for two Westport officers who just weeks earlier saved a man’s life while responding to a call.

At noon Friday, Nov. 17, officers Michael Chicca and Jarrod Levesque were officially awarded with the department’s Lifesaving Award for their actions last month. It was the first such award for Chicca, and the second for Levesque.

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, the two officers were called to a domestic dispute at a Drift Road home. While speaking with officers and his wife, a 56-year-old man turned away, leaned against his truck and collapsed.

Both Chicca and Levesquie saw the man collapse and ran to help. While Levesque checked for a pulse and started chest compressions, he asked the wife for her husband’s medical history. Meanwhile, Officer Chicca radioed the station and requested an ambulance, then retrieved an AED (automatic external defibrillator) from his cruiser.

When Chicca returned, the officers worked together to attach the AED’s electrodes to the man’s chest and delivered a shock as directed. After that, they took turns doing chest compressions while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. By the time it did, the man had regained consciousness.

After reading the officers’ incident report and viewing their body camera footage, members of department’s awards committee concluded that Chicca and Levesque’s quick response, proper use of the AED and manual CPR technique helped save the man.

Committee members also gave great weight to a statement from Westport paramedic Glenn Nunes, who wrote:

“First time in 29 years I brought a patient to the hospital post cardiac arrest that was sitting up talking to me with no complaints. He is definitely alive and doing well from a quick response from your guys."