11-26-79 agendaCITY OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
Office of City Manager
Council Letter No. 365
Agenda November 26, 1979
The Honorable Mayor
and
Members of the City Council
City of Richfield
Council Members:
Subject: Public Safety Commendation Awards
The Public Safety Department has a semi-annual Commendation
Award Program, in which Public Safety employees and citizens re-
ceive recognition for some significant public safety contribution
to our community. The Public Safety Department staff has chosen
three employees as recipients of the commendation award for the
period of January through June, 1979. These three employees are
Fire Captain James Case, Firefighter Dean Johanson and Police Of-
ficer Timothy Johnson.
At approximately 7:26 a.m., on February 14, 1979, the Public
Safety Department received a call to provide medical assistance to
Mrs. Janice Gamble, who resides at 6405 Logan Avenue South. Mrs.
Gamble was in labor. Shortly after our public safety personnel ar-
rived at the home, Mrs. Gamble started childbirth delivery. Almost
immediately, it became apparent that the circumstances involved a
breech birth and the baby's limbs were in a position which prevented
the baby from leaving the mother's body. Because breech birth sit-
uations are so uncommon, none of our public safety personnel on the
scene had dealt with this type of a situation previously. Our per-
sonnel contacted the resident obstetrician at Fairview-Southdale
Hospital by phone. The obstetrician gave instructions over the
phone to our personnel and they in turn took the necessary action
to accomplish the delivery of the baby. From a medical standpoint,
the situation was very critical. In the opinion of the medical
staff at Fairview-Southdale Hospital, the action of our public
safety employees not only saved the life of the baby, but very likely
saved the life of the mother as well.
At this time, both the mother and the baby are doing very well.
Because of the outstanding accomplishment of our public safety em-
ployees in dealing with this critical medical emergency situation,
it is the recommendation of the Public Safety Director, in which I
concur, that the city council recognize these three employees for
their outstanding performance in this matter.
Respectfully submitted,
Karl Nollenberger
City Manager
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