Right Tool, Right Time: Inside an Alexandria Officer's Rescue

Learn about Project Heart Restart and the Alexandria officer who proved its value by saving a life just days after the program launched.

by Admin

Sep 5, 2025

In Alexandria, Kentucky, most days unfold with a familiar rhythm. But on November 15, 2024, an urgent call shattered the calm. A man in his 30s, Matt, had suddenly collapsed in his basement and was unresponsive. For his family, time stood still as a life hung in the balance. For the Alexandria Police Department, it was a call to serve, answered by an officer uniquely prepared for this exact moment.

A Call That Changed Everything

When the dispatch came through, Officer Whitney Buerger was the first on the scene. She arrived to find Matt’s partner, Jasmine, and her mother already performing CPR, a crucial first step in the chain of survival. Officer Buerger knew that every second was critical. “Anytime we have somebody down, we don’t know what’s going on, I grab the AED, I grab Narcan, I grab gloves,” she later explained, highlighting an instinct to be prepared for anything. In her patrol car was a brand-new Avive Connect AED, a piece of equipment she had received just two days earlier as part of a new public safety program.

The Right Tools, The Right Person

Without hesitation, Officer Buerger brought the device to Matt’s side. Though she hadn’t yet had formal training on this specific model, she followed the clear, calm prompts of the machine. Within 26 seconds, the AED advised and delivered a shock. The life-saving intervention worked, restoring Matt’s pulse before paramedics arrived. He would later learn he had coronary heart disease. Thanks to the quick actions of his family and Officer Buerger, he has since returned home. For the officer, the call was a powerful reminder of her purpose. “It kind of solidified why I got into this field: to help people,” she said.

A Full-Circle Moment of Hope

This rescue was more than just a professional success for Officer Buerger; it was deeply personal. When she was just 14 years old, she experienced a sudden cardiac arrest herself and was saved by a defibrillator. The experience gave her a profound sense of empathy for Matt and his family. “Being able to be here today and relate to him on that level, and see his second chance at life and see what he’s going to do for his girls, it’s good,” she shared. Her heroic act was the first save for Project Heart Restart, a regional partnership between the Rotary Club of Cincinnati, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, and The Christ Hospital Health Network that equipped 168 cruisers with AEDs. For her actions, Officer Buerger later received the Excellence in Service Award.

A Final Thought

This is more than just a story of a single rescue. It shows how community partnerships and equipping officers with the right tools can lead to a positive outcome. Officer Buerger’s story is a perfect example of humanizing the badge, showing an officer whose personal journey turned her into the perfect person to be in the right place, at the right time.

Read more inspiring stories of officer dedication and community impact on welovepolice.org/stories.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are police officers trained to handle medical emergencies?

Yes. Police officers receive regular first aid, CPR, and basic life support training. Because they are often the first to arrive at an emergency, their ability to provide immediate medical assistance before paramedics get there is a critical part of their job. Many departments are also equipping officers with tools like AEDs and naloxone to handle cardiac and overdose emergencies.

2. What does an AED do and is it hard to use?

An AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is a smart medical device that analyzes a person’s heart rhythm. If it detects a life-threatening irregular rhythm, it can deliver a controlled electrical shock to restore a normal heartbeat. Modern AEDs are designed for the public and are very simple to use; they provide clear, step-by-step voice instructions to guide the user through the entire process.

3. Why is it so important for police to carry AEDs in their cars?

In a sudden cardiac arrest, every minute without defibrillation decreases the chance of survival by about 10%. Since police on patrol can often reach a scene faster than an ambulance, having an AED in their vehicle can dramatically cut down the time to the first shock. This turns a police cruiser into a mobile life-saving unit, significantly boosting survival rates in the community.

4. What is the "chain of survival" in a cardiac emergency?

The "chain of survival" is a sequence of actions that, when performed quickly, give a person in cardiac arrest the best chance of survival. The steps include: immediately calling 911, starting high-quality CPR, using an AED as soon as possible, and the arrival of advanced medical responders who can provide further care.

5. How do community partnerships help law enforcement agencies?

Community partnerships, like those between police departments, local hospitals, and civic groups like the Rotary Club, are vital. They allow for the funding and acquisition of expensive, life-saving equipment like AEDs that might be outside a department's budget. This collaboration improves public safety and builds stronger relationships between officers and the communities they serve.

6. What's the difference between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest?

A heart attack is a "plumbing" problem where blood flow to the heart is blocked. The person is usually awake and breathing. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is an "electrical" problem where the heart suddenly stops beating unexpectedly. The person collapses, is unresponsive, and is not breathing normally. While a heart attack can sometimes trigger SCA, they are different conditions.

7. What are the first steps to take if someone has a cardiac arrest?

If you see someone collapse and they are unresponsive, first ensure the scene is safe, then call 911 immediately. If they are not breathing normally, begin chest compressions (CPR) right away. If another person is available, have them find the nearest AED. Using an AED and performing CPR until emergency crews arrive can double or even triple a person's chance of survival.