Chicago police officers tell how they saved fellow officer's life
ABC7 Exclusive
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police officers spoke exclusively to ABC7 about how they saved the life of a fellow officer. The life-saving heroics were made possible by a state law that now requires all police stations to be equipped with defibrillators.
A defibrillator is the simple device responsible for saving countless lives, including the life of a 59-year-old officer at the 11th District police station. When the officer went into cardiac arrest Saturday, it undoubtedly helped save his life, along with the fellow officers who jumped into action.
"They do actually teach us how to use the defibrillator and everything, but you never know when you're actually going to need it," said Jordan Parks.
"Counting the song 'Staying Alive' in all honesty so you can keep the rhythm of the compressions," said Phillip Renault.
Jordan Parks and Phillip Renault applied compression while Danielle Mulligan did mouth to mouth and used the defibrillator to shock the officer's heart back to life.
"We all took this job so we can help people. We don't ever think we're going to help someone who's a brother in blue, but we were able to and that made it really special," Mulligan said.
The station has only been equipped with a defibrillator for a little over a month after state lawmakers passed a law last summer requiring all police stations to have one. It was prompted by the death two years ago of 59-year-old Detective Dennis McLaughlin. He suffered a heart attack and there was no defibrillator available. The officers here are grateful to have it now.
"The defibrillator went and did its job and between Officer Parks and Officer Renault - they did the compressions - she breathed for him, and they saved his life," said Rodney Kincaide.
The officer was taken to Rush University Medical Center where he is recovering Thursday night. The police are planning a ceremony on Monday to honor Det. McLaughlin, whose death prompted the governor to sign the bill which mandates defibrillators at all police stations.
