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North Adams Police Personnel Commended for Life-Saving Actions
By Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
11:43AM / Wednesday, May 27, 2015
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Mayor Richard Alcombright and Police Director Michael Cozzaglio present commendations to Officer Ben Austin, acting Sgt. Jason Wood and dispatcher Arthur J. Filkins.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Three members of the Police Department were publicly commended at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

Officers Ben Austin and acting Sgt. Jason Wood and dispatcher Arthur J. Filkins were recognized for their actions in saving the life of an 85-year-old woman.

"In a time where we see a lot of negativity surrounding police and surrounding law enforcement, I think this is just a great time to bring testimony to some of our officers that I think have done something quite extraordinary, along with our dispatcher," said Mayor Richard Alcombright.

Guided by Filkins' understanding of the urgency of the situation, the two officers responded to the scene ahead of the ambulance to find the elderly woman choking. They immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver and were continuing to remove the food blockage when ambulance personnel arrived.

According to North Adams Ambulance Service's Amalio Jusino, "the quick actions of dispatcher Filkins, Officer Austin and Sgt. Wood immediately contributed to saving this individual's life. ... although we were responding, this was a prime example of how seconds count when saving a life."
 
Police Director Michael Cozzaglio said their actions showed the "level of commitment to the community."

"Their quick thinking and their training kicked right in and they saved this woman. It was a great job," he said.

The three men were honored earlier this month at the semi-annual Neighborlies Awards, sponsored by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, but the mayor has made a habit out of recognizing extraordinary public service, or inducting new public safety personnel, during the televised City Council meetings.

"We have really a fine Police Department in the city of North Adams," Alcombright said. "They're highly trained, highly responsible and very visible and it think they do a great job."

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