South Piedmont Basic Law Enforcement Training grad Avigail Salazar was celebrated last week for her role in saving a woman’s life.
Salazar completed South Piedmont’s Basic Law Enforcement Training program in December 2022. She is now an officer with the Mint Hill Police Department.
Last week, the department presented Salazar and two of her colleagues with its Life Saving Award.
Mint Hill Police Department Major Scott Hall provided a synopsis of the event that led to Salazar’s recognition.
In June, Salazar was on patrol when she came across what she thought was a stranded motorist. Salazar made contact with the female driver, who became unresponsive a few seconds later. Salazar immediately provided medical aid and administered Narcan (a medication that reverses opioid overdoses). Another officer arrived and began performing CPR while Salazar and a third officer used an Automated External Defibrillator on the woman. Medical personnel then arrived. The woman had regained a pulse prior to being transported to the hospital. The woman survived the incident.
Salazar said she became a police officer to do exactly what she did in June: help people when they need it most.
“I want to make a difference for my community,” she said. “I just happened to be at the right place at the right time and was able to get her help immediately.”
Learn more about South Piedmont’s Basic Law Enforcement Training.