Police officer saves future officer’s life with CPR, AED and help from first responders

University of Central Missouri police Officer Alexis Parrott saved police cadet Kaylee Sanders' life earlier this month with help from other first responders.

Sanders had a seizure during training at the Central Missouri Police Academy on Oct. 1.

Parrott happened to be at the academy that day for a quick visit.

“I'm one of two EMTs at the department,” she said. “I'm just fortunate that I had the training to do what was needed and that she was able to get CPR as soon as she needed it.”

Other first responders from UCM’s Department of Public Safety, the Warrensburg Fire Department, the Warrensburg Police Department, and the Johnson County Ambulance District also arrived to help.

They used an AED twice to shock Sanders' heart back into rhythm. Others jumped in to perform CPR as well. Sanders' husband, a Warrensburg officer, also arrived at the scene.

Sanders woke up a few days later at a Kansas City-area hospital. She only remembers driving to the academy on the day of her seizure.

"She saved my life," she said of Parrott. "She honestly saved my life."

Parrott recently graduated from the Central Missouri Police Academy.

She was on her fourth solo shift as a police officer that day.

"Yeah, it's a lot," she said. "It's really good that she's still here."

Their boss echoed that sentiment.

“It's somebody I hired to be here and someone that I'm going to put out on the streets,” said Capt. Mike Papasifakis, assistant director of the University of Central Missouri Department of Public Safety.

“I'm just happy she's still here.”

Sanders plans to restart her work at the Central Missouri Police Academy next year. She is on the way to a full recovery.