The New Canaan Police Department is in the process of simplifying its mission statement to a single sentence: “To protect and serve our community with courage, professionalism and integrity.”
Courage, professionalism and integrity—in the predawn hours of Saturday, Oct. 18, NCPD Officers Michael O’Sullivan and Brian Micena demonstrated those heroic qualities in saving the life of 52-year-old Charlie Taben, a New Canaan resident who had gone into cardiac arrest at about 2:45 a.m.
When officers arrived at the house within minutes of the dispatcher’s call, the officers found that Taben had no pulse and wasn’t breathing, Chief Leon Krolikowski recalled Monday morning. “Brian and Michael relied on their training, worked as a team and connected the AED [automated external defibrillator],” initiated a shock and commenced CPR—almost certainly saving Taben’s life, Krolikowski said during an Awards Ceremony for the officers, held in the Lapham Community Center. O’Sullivan and Micena earned the “Medical Service Award,” Krolikowski said as the Taben family—Charlie, his wife Eve and their three daughters—looked on, as well as about 30 guests, including Police Commissioners Stuart Sawabini and Sperry DeCew, Fire Chief Jack Hennessey, Selectman Beth Jones and Emergency Management Director Mike Handler. “This award is presented to any member of our department for an act performed in the line of duty which through disregard for personal safety or prompt and alert actions results in saving a life or preventing serious physical injury,” the chief said.
