Life-Saving Training Pays off When Off-Duty Sergeant Saves Choking Victim

Saugus – On Sunday, April 29, 2001, Los Angeles Police Sergeant Russel Kilby was off-duty, dining with a friend at LaCene Restaurant, located at 12625 Sierra Highway, in Saugus, when a female patron at the restaurant started choking on her food. Sergeant Kilby responded to the pleas for help from the waitress who, along with other patrons and the victim’s husband, had become paralyzed to the emergency at hand. Sergeant Kilby reached the victim, who by now was not able to breathe, and performed a "Heimlich" maneuver, dislodging the food in the victim’s throat.
Both, the victim and her husband, expressed their sincere appreciation for Sergeant Kirby’s quick action, and were grateful to the Los Angeles Police Department for training its officers with this life-saving maneuver.
This Press Release was prepared by Officer Eduardo Funes, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.