PALOS HEIGHTS, Illinois — Palos Heights Police Detective Jake Wiegand was honored with a Life Saving Award after applying emergency care during an April medical crisis at Trinity Christian College, according to The Regional News.
The Regional News reported that Wiegand responded with three other officers in the early morning hours of April 25 after a resident assistant reported a student needed emergency help. ThinBlueNews is limiting victim details and focusing on the public-safety response because the source described the call as a self-harm-related medical crisis.
According to the report, Wiegand quickly assessed the student’s injury, applied a tourniquet and used a pressure bandage while waiting for paramedics. The student was transported to a hospital and survived, The Regional News reported.
Chief credits calm emergency care
“Your quick response time, immediate and accurate assessment of the situation, expert execution of emergency care, and calm and professional conduct were crucial in bridging the time before the woman could be treated by medical professionals,” Palos Heights Police Chief Michael Yott said in presenting the award, according to The Regional News.
The Regional News reported that this was Wiegand’s fifth Life Saving Award in his police career. The story said he previously received two similar awards with the Palos Heights Police Department and two while serving with the University of Chicago campus police.
Wiegand also serves as the instructor for the Palos Heights Police Department’s emergency medical training class, which Chief Yott noted he had taught one day before the Trinity Christian College response, according to the report.
“He is a huge asset to the department,” Yott said, according to The Regional News.
Mayor Robert Straz said the award showed the dedication of officers who answer calls when people are in need, The Regional News reported.
Source reviewed
Editorial note: This article intentionally omits graphic injury details and identifying information about the student. The featured image is a real public award/recognition photo from the source story; no AI-generated rescue scene was used.