STURGIS, S.D. – Two Sturgis police officers are being recognized for helping save the life of an elderly Air Force veteran during a welfare check earlier this summer.
Sergeant Dylan Goetsch and Officer Matthew Jacobs will receive the Lifesaving Award during tonight’s Sturgis City Council meeting for their actions on July 19.
Police were asked to check on the veteran after a friend and neighbor became concerned when he had not answered his phone or been seen for more than a day. The man had recently been released from a VA hospital and lived alone.
After arriving at the home, the officers searched the property and looked through windows for signs of the veteran. They eventually located an unlocked basement window, entered the residence, and found the man injured on a bathroom floor, bleeding and drifting in and out of consciousness.
The officers immediately rendered aid and called for paramedics, remaining with the veteran until emergency crews arrived.
According to city officials, medical personnel later said the veteran likely would not have survived had the officers not found a way into the home and located him when they did. The veteran continues to recover.
City officials say the incident highlights both the importance of welfare checks and the dedication of Sturgis police officers to the community they serve.
