Two St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies receive Kiwanis Club Life Saver Awards
Two St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies received the Kiwanis Club of St. Bernard-Arabi Life Saver Award at a banquet hosted by Kiwanis on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at Rocky and Carlo’s Restaurant in Chalmette, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Dep. Collin Mills and Dep. Christopher Battaglia, both of the Field Operations Bureau Patrol Division’s 3rd Platoon, were both honored for their efforts to save an elderly man who nearly drowned following an automobile accident.
It was Christmas night on Dec. 25, shortly before 11 p.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, when Dep. Mills and Dep. Battaglia received a call for service to respond to a single vehicle accident involving a pick-up truck that had left the roadway and crashed into the Violet Canal on east St. Bernard Highway.
In what could be called a Christmas miracle, Dep. Mills and Dep. Battaglia received that call as they were patrolling the parking lot of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Colonial Boulevard in Violet, just down the street from where the accident occurred.
Due to their close proximity, both deputies arrived on the scene almost immediately. They quickly realized the driver, an elderly man who was later determined to be in his 80s, was trapped inside his vehicle which was becoming submerged in the canal.
Both deputies began removing their equipment right away and scaled down a metal bridge beam so they could make their way to the man.
With temperatures in the low 30s that night, Dep. Mills jumped into the frigid water without hesitation and swam to the disoriented man who was struggling to stay above water. Once Dep. Mills reached the man, he was able to hold him above water.
Using a life-saving rope, Dep. Battaglia, and an unknown bystander, helped pull the man and Dep. Mills to the metal beam where they could hold on. With help from the St. Bernard Fire Department, both deputies used a ladder to fully lift the man out of the water to safety.
The elderly man, who has a history of heart issues, was transported to an area hospital for his injuries. He was treated and later released.
Dep. Mills, who began his career with the Sheriff’s Office five years ago, graduated from the Police Officer Standards Training school in May, 2019. During his time at the Sheriff’s Office he also has worked in the Corrections Division at the Parish Prison.
“Becoming a police officer has always been an aspiration of mine,” Dep. Mills said. “What I love most about my job is protecting the lives of citizens and maintaining order in my community.”
Dep. Mills said he didn’t realize the magnitude of what happened until it was all over.
“After we got the man to safety, I did not even think it was a big deal until everyone came to tell us what a good job we did,” he said.
Dep. Battaglia, who has been with the Sheriff’s Office for a year and a half, graduated from the Police Officer Standards Training school in November, 2019.
Dep. Battaglia said knowing their actions on duty saved a man’s life is an amazing feeling.
“It’s truly an honor to serve my community and make a difference in my community,” said Dep. Battaglia, who comes from a law enforcement family. His father worked in the Patrol Division for 15 years, and his mother worked in the Communications Division at the 911 Center and in the Corrections Division at the Parish Prison for five years.
Kiwanis Life Saver Committee Chairman Sam Catalanotto said the Kiwanis Club started presenting these awards more than a decade ago as a way to recognize first-responders in the parish for the work they do to protect the public. The award is presented quarterly to parish first responders chosen by the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department, he said.
“They are the first people through the door, and usually the last ones out, in an emergency, putting their lives on the line everyday,” Catalanotto said.
Anyone interested in joining the St. Bernard/Arabi Kiwanis Club community service organization is welcome to attend one of its luncheons each Tuesday at noon in the Rocky and Carlo’s Sicilian Room, 613 W. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. For more information, call Robby Showalter at (504) 616-7312.
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