05/22/2024
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On Friday, January 27, 2023 at approximately 11:34 p.m., Ptlm. McCain was on patrol in the area of Central High School when he noticed a vehicle sitting stationary in a field adjacent to I-55 near Wolverine Lane. It appeared that the vehicle had been driven into the field from the dead end and eventually became stuck in the mud.
After Cpl. Rogers and Ptlm. Koesterer arrived on scene to assist, it was determined that the area where the vehicle was sitting in was actually in the jurisdiction of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriffβs Office. However, due to the fact that the vehicle was just outside the cityβs jurisdiction, the officers decided to check the vehicle for any possible occupants.
Ptlm. McCain, Cpl. Rogers, and Ptlm. Koesterer made their way to the vehicle, which was unoccupied and not running. When canvassing the area, Ptlm. McCain located an elderly male lying on his back in several inches of water at the bottom of a drainage ditch next to I-55. The officers attempted to call to him, but after it was apparent he was too weak to get out on his own, Ptlm. McCain and Ptlm. Koesterer entered the ditch to attempt to assist him. The male appeared to be disoriented and was unable to tell officers how he became stuck in the ditch. It was unclear how long he had been in the ditch, but complained of being very cold (the air temperature at the time was approximately 40 degrees).
Medical arrived on scene and extracted the male subject from the ditch. It was determined that his blood sugar was highly elevated and he was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Shortly after, our Communications Unit advised that the elderly male subject had just been entered as a missing person with dementia by the Murphysboro, Illinois Police Department. After contact was made with Murphysboro Police Department, the manβs family was able to respond to the hospital to be with him.
This incident was completely initiated by an officer, who on his own and without any outside influence, took it upon himself to check on the vehicle. This further proves that without these officers intervening, it is possible that the victim would have not been noticed for some time, and possibly too late to help him. Due to his medical condition, along with the fact that he was wet and exposed to cold temperatures, the situation could have easily been fatal if not for the immediate actions of Ptlm. McCall, Cpl. Rogers, and Ptlm. Koesterer.
Due to this being Ptlm. McCainβs second Life Saving award, he received the Life Saving medal.