Adams Police Officer Commended for Life-Saving Actions
ADAMS, Mass. — Police Officer Samantha Morin was recognized for her actions this past week that are said to have saved the life of a stabbing victim.
A letter of commendation from Police Sgt. Dylan Hicks to the Board of Selectmen was read aloud by Chairwoman Christine Hoyt on Tuesday. The letter referred to a stabbing incident in the town that occurred on Monday.
"This is my deepest and most profound admiration, that I must willingly and gladly write to the select board, a letter of commendation for officers Samantha Morin and request that she be formally recognized for her heroic actions on Nov. 23, 2020," Hoyt read. "As a police officer for the town of Adams, in the field training program, she responded to a call for service to the stabbing and provided extraordinary life-saving measures in the form of medical aid to the victim."
Morin was sworn in as an officer in September after having served in the Army and with U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The assault was reported about 11:20 on Monday and Morin responded with Officers Travis Cunningham and Michael Rossi. They found the victim had been severely slashed with a knife and immediately rendered aid.
As a rookie officer, Morin showed a high level of poise and control over the situation and the "ability to perform under immense pressure and stress."
She applied the combat application tourniquet, or CAT, from her duty belt to the victim's upper arm to staunch the life-threatening loss of blood. She continued to provide aid while awaiting ambulance personnel and securing the scene.
After speaking to the training officer, Cunningham, Rossi, the emergency medical service and Berkshire Medical Center doctors, it was confirmed that Morin's action alone of applying a tourniquet preserved the victim's life.
"The failure to act or delayed action both definitely could have led to tragic outcome," Hoyt read.
Her exemplary actions reflected well on herself, the force and the town of Adams, Hicks wrote.
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