West Melbourne Police Officer Recruits Rescue Man From Water After Vehicle Crash
By Space Coast Daily // March 22, 2016
elderly male driver suffered medical condition
BREVARD COUNTY • WEST MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Three West Melbourne Police Officer Recruits’ quick action saved a man’s life after his car left the roadway and crashed into a drainage canal full of water in front of the West Melbourne Police Department during a heavy rain storm.
According to West Melbourne Police Chief Richard Wiley, the incident occurred last Saturday afternoon as the West Melbourne Police Spring Festival had wrapped up, and staff and volunteers were cleaning up after the event.
Recruits Mitchell Faircloth, Joshua Kennedy and William Hicks sprang into action as Kennedy called 911, while Faircloth and Hicks jumped into the canal as the car slipped further into the water.
Fearing the car would soon become submerged, Faircloth was able to open the driver’s door and take the seatbelt off of the driver. Both men began carrying the disoriented driver up the embankment.
“We felt obligated because it was the right thing to do,” said Faircloth.
From the top of the canal bank, West Melbourne City Council Member John Tice and Kennedy reached down to the three men and assisted them during their ascent.
“It soon became apparent that the elderly male driver was suffering a medical condition and was possibly in shock,” said Chief Wiley.
“Hicks, Faircloth, and Kennedy reverted to their recently completed First Aid Training in the Law Enforcement Academy and tended to the victim until paramedics arrived.”
The three Police Officer Recruits have completed nine weeks of training at the Eastern Florida State College Law Enforcement Academy, and are expected to graduate after approximately 22 weeks of training. Their next step would then be to take the State of Florida Police Officer Certification.
Each of them felt that their recent first aid training “absolutely helped” as they aided the victim.
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“These young men acted heroically and without hesitation,” said Chief Wiley.
“They exhibited the exact qualities I look for when hiring police officers. I could not be more proud of their actions and anxiously await for them to become certified police officers. I’d also like to thank City Council Member John ‘Coach’ Tice for his assistance during this incident.”
