Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes presented Officer John Bruttaniti with the department’s Life Saving Medal on Wednesday, June 10, recognizing his heroic response to a choking emergency that occurred earlier that week.
The incident took place on June 7 at approximately 3 p.m. While Officer Bruttaniti and Officer Tracy Arsenault were executing a traffic stop, they noticed a nearby vehicle pull over abruptly. A man and woman exited their car in evident distress, with the man cradling his 1 1/2-year-old daughter and desperately attempting to clear an obstruction from her airway.
The officers quickly assessed the situation and recognized the child was choking. Drawing on his training, Officer Bruttaniti retrieved the toddler from her father’s arms and successfully extracted a penny lodged in her throat. Meanwhile, Officer Arsenault maintained control of the scene and provided reassurance to the parents, allowing Officer Bruttaniti to focus entirely on the life-saving intervention.
Sgt. Efrain Gonzalez forwarded a commendation to Chief Kyes highlighting Officer Bruttaniti’s performance. According to the sergeant’s assessment, the officer’s composure during this urgent and emotionally intense situation proved instrumental in the child’s survival. Officer Arsenault’s contributions during the emergency also received recognition from Sgt. Gonzalez.
Chief Kyes expressed his appreciation, stating: “fblikebutton_button” The police chief further noted: