UW police recognize lifesaving efforts

The UW Police Department is honoring several civilians and UWPD staff members for lifesaving efforts during the past year.

At its annual awards ceremony Monday, April 21, the department recognized Madison Fire Department paramedic Peter Ragotski, UW neurology professor Robert Dempsey and UW police officer Peter Grimyser for helping to save the life of a runner who collapsed near Lot 60 during last year’s Crazylegs Classic.

Ragotski and Dempsey, who were also participants in the race, had already started CPR on the man when Grimyser arrived at the scene. Grimyser used a portable defibrillator to revive him, and Ragotski and Dempsey then restarted CPR. Madison Fire Rescue transported the man to UW Hospital and Clinics.

Michael Dittmer and Matthew Molnar, employees of the UW Plant Engineering Department at the Clinical Sciences Center, were honored for their quick action in putting out a fire at the hospital last July. The blaze started when a construction worker’s welding torch struck an oxygen line, spreading the fire across the ceiling. Molnar and Dittmer were treated for smoke inhalation.

Police officer Kerri Miller and security officer Bill Vanderbloemen received lifesaving awards for their attempt to keep a suicidal woman from jumping off the Clinical Sciences Center parking ramp.

Lieutenant Karen Soley received a lifesaving award for successfully performing the Heimlich maneuver on a stadium-area bar patron who was choking; and Sergeant Tamara Kowalski was honored for performing rescue breathing on a woman who fell ill while attending the Drum Corps International competition at Camp Randall Stadium last August.

Two other civilians received Chief’s awards:

• Linda Dickson, the manager of the Schmidt’s Auto, Inc. parts store on West Badger Road, who helped UWPD officers nab a pair of suspects in a hit-and-run accident, and
• Julie Feavel, chair of Campus Crimestoppers and a member of its board since 1999, for her fund-raising efforts and assistance in creating a new mission and vision statement for the program. Feavel was also cited for her volunteer work on such events as Safety Saturday and the Eagle Heights Bike Safety Rodeo.

Thirty-one members of the department, including K-9 officer Mosely, received Excellent Service awards.