Trine alumnus receives Meritorious Service Citation

FORT WAYNE — A Trine University alumnus who serves as a patrolman for the Fort Wayne Police Department was recognized with a Meritorious Service Citation during the department’s annual awards ceremony on May 18.

Officer Clint Hill, who graduated from Trine in 2001 with a degree in criminal justice and has been with the FWPD for 11 years, heard a dispatch call for an EMS medical run. Even though he was not dispatched to the scene, he proceeded there and was the first to arrive.

“I was really close by and knew I might be able to get there before (EMS) and help out before their arrival,” Hill said.

Hill found the victim not breathing and without a pulse. He immediately began administering CPR and continued to do so until relieved by the fire department and medics.

“When I began chest compressions he started agonal breathing, and I took that as a good sign he was trying to breathe,” Hill said. “Five minutes later when firefighters arrived he had a faint pulse.”

The victim was later revived. The citation reads, “Officer Hill’s quick and professional actions were responsible for greatly increasing the victim’s chances of survival.”

 “I’ve had two or three prior incidents like this, and they all had a negative outcome,” Hill said. “It was nice to have a positive outcome.

“With everything going on in today’s political climate, it’s nice to be recognized for anything positive we do that is more service-related.”

The Meritorious Service Citation may be awarded by the chief of police or the mayor of Fort Wayne to a department employee who performs an extremely laudable or extraordinary act.