Recently retired Kentucky State Police Sergeant James Richard and Trooper Jacob Harper of KSP Post 15 in Columbia recently were honored with “lifesaving” awards during the state police’s annual Sworn Awards ceremony.
Post 15 received a domestic violence call that a man was suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg and Sgt. Richard and Trooper Harper responded and quickly took action.
They placed the victim on the ground and used a belt as temporary tourniquet. As they were assisting him, a Columbia city police officer arrived with a tourniquet, which they applied to the victim’s leg. The tourniquet helped significantly while waiting for an ambulance.
The Adair County Emergency Medical Technician said the victim’s injury was life threatening and the rapid application of the temporary tourniquet helped save the victim’s life.