A Healdsburg police officer is the recipient of a "Life Saving Award" for rendering first aid to a man who had lost consciousness and stopped breathing.
Officer Mike Shooter was presented the award Wednesday at the City Council meeting.
"If he hadn't intervened, there's no doubt the guy eventually would have expired," said Police Chief Kevin Burke.
The man in medical distress was in custody in the police department's holding cell in late June. He had been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.
It was when Shooter made a routine check on the prisoner around 3 a.m. that he found him non-responsive and not breathing.
"I administered CPR and he seemed to revive," Shooter said.
Police declined to identify the man, other than to say he was a father of two young children and was visiting Healdsburg for a wedding.
Shooter said it was gratifying to save his life.
"Knowing someone went home is an amazing feeling," he said.
Shooter, 51 , has been on the Healdsburg Police force six years. He previously served with the Cotati and Clearlake police departments and received an "Officer of the Year" award in Lake County.
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