Theodore Powers

All cops are ******** As I was walking to catch a bus, sirens suddenly started coming from several directions. My attention was drawn to a lone police officer and two PCSOs fighting to save a man’s life. A passenger on a bus had gone into cardiac arrest and, without hesitation, they were on the floor administering CPR in a desperate attempt to bring him back. Within moments a trainee doctor joined them, and the fight to keep the man alive continued. A few minutes later — although it felt far longer — more officers arrived along with the first paramedic car. The man’s heart stopped more than once, but the effort never stopped. CPR continued, equipment arrived, and after a long battle at the scene the patient was finally prepared for transport to hospital in a critical condition, connected to everything possible to keep him alive. Medics later told the officer and PCSOs that without their immediate actions, the man would not even have made it to an ambulance. By pure chance they had been on a bus behind when they were alerted, and with no kit and no time to think, they went straight to work. Once relieved by paramedics and other officers arriving, the first officer went straight back to duty, protecting the scene and asking people to use an alternative route as the pavement had been closed. Having moments earlier been pumping a man’s chest trying to keep him alive, he then found himself dealing with the annoyance of members of the public unhappy at being told they could not walk through. It was a telling moment. I spoke briefly with the officer afterwards. He told me he has dealt with injured people before, and has been present at scenes involving the deceased, but this was the first time he had to perform CPR himself on the street. Those who have been in that position will know exactly how something like that stays with you long after the incident is over. For all the criticism aimed at police on social media, this is the side rarely seen — usually unreported — and forgotten with all the hate-officers going from routine patrol to life-and-death in seconds, doing everything they can to save someone they have never met, and carrying the weight of it afterwards. I do not know what the outcome will be for the patient, but one thing is certain — without that officer and those PCSOs, he would not have left that place alive. My thoughts are not only with the patient, and I hope he makes a recovery, but also with everyone who was there, especially the first officer on scene and the PCSOs. Today they made the difference. Sadly, I have stood at too many scenes where the fight ends differently. @CrimeLdn @obbsie @TomGaymor @Brick_Cop @metpoliceuk @MPSCroydon