LOS ANGELES AIRPORT POLICE OFFICERS SAVE LIFE OF HEART ATTACK VICTIM

(Los Angeles, California – April 5, 2007) Two Los Angeles Airport Police officers are recognized for their actions in saving the life of a United States Postal Service (USPS) employee at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Los Angeles Airport Police Officers Shawn Smith and Joe Espitia responded to an emergency radio call March 20, from communications operator Tamika Gibson, regarding an unconscious man in his vehicle located on the airfield service road.

Arriving quickly, the officers discovered that the subject was in life-threatening distress, had no pulse and was not breathing. Without hesitation, the officers performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in accordance with their police training on the victim.

The officers resuscitated the victim’s vital life signs, and manually maintained his breathing until the arrival of Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, who continued life sustaining measures using an automated external defibrillator (AED). The postal worker was transported to Centinela Hospital in Inglewood. He was later transferred to Kaiser Hospital in Los Angeles and is in stable condition.

Officer Espitia has served seven years on the Airport Police force, and Officer Smith has served for six years. All Los Angeles Airport Police officers have been fully trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

The Los Angeles Airport Police is the fourth largest law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County, with more than 900 law enforcement, security and staff personnel. Airport Police is a division of Los Angeles World Airports, the City department that owns and operates four airports in Southern California: Los Angeles International, LA/Ontario International, LA/Palmdale Regional and Van Nuys (general aviation).

Los Angeles Airport Police Officer Joe Espitia.

Los Angeles Airport Police Officer Shawn Smith.