On Tuesday, Oct. 18, Thief River Falls Mayor Brian Holmer (far left) and Police Chief Dick Wittenberg (far right) presented Life Saving Awards to Officers Ben Tureson (second from left) and Ryan Bassett. The officers began CPR after responding to a medical call Sept. 11 at Quality Inn. The male patient continues to recover.

    Officers Ryan Bassett and Ben Tureson were presented with Life Saving Awards at the Thief River Falls City Council meeting Tuesday, Oct. 18.
    Bassett and Tureson were dispatched to Quality Inn on the morning of Monday, Sept. 11. They found a man on the ground, unresponsive and not breathing. They began CPR. Paramedics arrived and used a defibrillator. The man was eventually transported to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, N.D..
    “His family reports that he is recovering well,” said Police Chief Dick Wittenberg.
    This was Bassett’s second Life Saving Award and Tureson’s third Life Saving Award. Each officer received a certificate and a uniform ribbon indicating the number of lives saved.
    Mayor Brian Holmer thanked them for their work, stating that he is always honored to bestow such an award.