Parsippany Chief Distributes Lifesaving, Other Awards to Officers, Civilians

PARSIPPANY, N.J.– Parsippany Police Chief Paul Philipps handed out 69 awards and commendations after the department's annual inspection.

The chief conducts a uniform and equipment inspection and presents awards to officers, who earned the honors throughout the year, according to the department spokesman Officer Brian Conover.

Eighteen officers received Lifesaving awards, while two Civilian Service awards for contributing to a lifesaving were distributed, Philipps said.

The award is issued when an officer or dispatcher directly contributes to a successful revival by way of CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED), or giving instructions to the caller on how to properly perform CPR, according to Philipps.

The two civilian awards were presented to Jennifer Sawyer and David Hess, a 45-year member of the Lake Hiawatha Fire Department.

Hess successfully performed the Heimlich Manuever on a a restaurant patron who was choking, Philipps said.

Sawyer performed CPR and used a defibrillator on a LA Fitness member who went into cardiac arrest, Philipps said.

Pictured: Jennifer Sawyer and Officer Thomas Armenti

Image courtesy Parsippany Police Department