Crime & Safety

Naugatuck First Responders Honored for Saving Residents' Lives [Video]

Local health center recognizes police, firefighters and medical technicians for rescuing two people from near death.

A group of Naugatuck first responders credited for saving two people from death within the past year, in separate incidents, were honored for their service on Wednesday.

“This was well above and beyond the call of duty,” said Al Pistarelli, former EMT and official at Beacon Brook Health Center. “And we’d like to honor everybody for that.”

Several police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel were in attendance during a ceremony Wednesday at the health center. The focus was on two incidents — the first in and the second in — in which Naugauck first responders’ quick actions saved the lives of Timothy McDevitt and .

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During the height of the biggest snowstorm of January — which dumped two feet of snow on parts of the borough — McDevitt suffered a heart attack at his Horton Hill Road home. After administering CPR his wife, Janice, called 911 and two Naugatuck officers, Bryan Coney and Thomas Grant, arrived.

The officers shocked McDevitt back to life, administering the initial aide that is credited for keeping him alive before EMTs could get to the scene.

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(Read Naugatuck Patch's ).

In the second event, Nancy San Angelo was caught in a fire in her Anderson Street apartment in April. Several firefighters involved helped rescue her from the building, effectively saving her from death.

“It’s the passion that each of these emergency personnel have, for not only our community and the residents in it, but for giving the highest level of service,” Deputy Mayor Tamath K. Rossi said during the event.

(Read Naugatuck Patch's ).

The list of the honorees is as follows:

In recognition for saving Naugatuck resident Timothy McDevitt on Jan. 12:

Officer Bryan Coney and Thomas Grant
Paramedic Pete Johnson
EMT’s Ashley Brown and Thomas Dempsey

In recognition for saving the life of Naugatuck resident Nancy San Angelo on April 22:

Dispatcher Fran Dambowsky
Capt. Richard Alfes
Lt. Greg Flaherty
2nd Assitant Chief Paul Russell
Firefighters Jason Alford, Thomas Foley, Tim Andrew, Stephen Sousa, Thomas Kaminski and Gregory McKirryher.
Paramedic Pete Johnson
EMTs Ashley Brown and Anna DeFelice.


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