2 Greenwood police officers recognized, 1 for saving an infant’s life, the other for bravery
GREENWOOD, La. (KSLA) — Two Greenwood police officers have been recognized, one for saving an infant’s life a day before the child’s first birthday and the other for continuing to do his job despite being hit by shrapnel when he came under fire during a vehicle chase.
Police Chief Shayne Gibson presented medals and plaques to Senior Officers Brian Anderson and Shawn Fertenbaugh when the Caddo Parish town’s Board of Aldermen met Tuesday, Jan. 18.
It was near the end of Anderson’s shift on June 19, the day before Father’s Day, when a man walked through the Police Department’s front door seeking help for his child. The infant had been found face down in a pond in Panola County, Texas.
“We were in the patrol room waiting for shift change, just talking, when distraught parents came in with a year-old baby that has drowned,” Anderson said. “The child was unresponsive.”
The father had already been performing CPR.
“Senior Officer Anderson stepped in, picked up the baby and began patting the baby on the back till the baby coughed up some water and began breathing again.” the police chief explained. “Other officers contacted Caddo Fire District 3; paramedics responded and got the baby to the hospital.
“The baby’s first birthday was June 20. He got to celebrate his first birthday because of Officer Anderson’s efforts.”
Anderson also was with Fertenbaugh four months later when a suspect fleeing on a motorcycle fired on their patrol unit, striking the windshield.
“The suspect reached in his waistband again, didn’t even turn around and fired two rounds,” said Fertenbaugh. “One came through my windshield, bullet fragment and I was hit in the head.”
Fertenbaugh was injured by flying glass. He and Anderson took about 45 seconds to assess his condition, then rejoined the chase that continued until they reached Longview, Texas.
Fertenbaugh helped take the suspect into custody about midday Oct. 14, then “collapsed when he got to his patrol unit,” Gibson said.
“It is not uncommon for us to deal with suspects with guns,” the police chief said. “But he was shot at multiple times and continued to do his job. Officer Fertenbaugh just excelled at his job that day.”
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