Thank You to Officer Kerrie Bushnell

Officer Bushnell and Sam Martin

At the April 12th  School Committee meeting, we were told of a recent incident at the Lakeview Junior High School.

No, this was not a fight, or another bullying case.

Here, we had a detail officer who happened “to be at the right place at the right time,” Superintendent Elaine Espindle tells us.

“Recently assigned to Lakeview Junior High School, Officer Bushnell responded to a student who was choking in the cafeteria” she told us. Sam Martin was eating lunch when he started choking on some food. Bushnell’s response saved the child’s life.

“She immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver, and saved the child.”

Officer Bushnell with Chief Kevin Richardson

Dracut is proud to have such professional staff, and Espindle was quick to point out the close relationship that the School District has with Chief Kevin Richardson and the Dracut Police Department.

Committee Member Bonnie Elie noted that Bushnell went about her duties that day, never once telling her supervisors or fellow officers about the incident.

“They do so much in a day,” Espindle noted. “Saving a child was one of her duties that day.”

Sam and his parents were at the School Committee meeting to see the congratulations and thanks bestowed by the committee to Officer Bushnell.

Well, for Sam, his family.. and our community, we’re lucky Officer Bushnell was there that day.