TO: Mayor Collins and Town Council Members
FROM: Kevin Burke, Town Manager
Peter Wingert, Chief of Police
DATE: May, 11, 2017
DEPARTMENT: Police Department
CONTACT:
Staff Contact Peter Wingert, 480-948-7418
End
AGENDA TITLE:
Title
Recognition of Outstanding Citizenship
Body
Council Goals
Improve Public Safety Services including prevention, enforcement, communication and community/victim outreach.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
On Monday morning, April 17th, 2017 at 7:34 AM, Paradise Valley Police Dispatcher Kristi Hillebert received a 9-1-1 phone call from Paradise Valley resident 14-year-old Eric Barkdull, who stated his father was driving him to school north on Invergordon Rd when he began acting strangely and driving erratically. Eric was able to get their Cadillac Escalade stopped, put in park, and remove the keys from the ignition, all while his father was confused as to what was going on and trying to get the keys from him to restart the vehicle. Eric was relatively calm throughout the call, and was able to provide Dispatcher Hillebert with their location and street names for responding officers and EMS personnel.
Paradise Valley Police Officer James Bach #172 and Corporal Mark Garrity #140 responded to this incident, to find the Cadillac at an angle on northbound N. Invergordon Road partially into the intersection of E. Doubletree Ranch Road. Eric and his father were still in the vehicle. His father was still confused as to what was occurring. Eric remained calm throughout the incident. Ofc. Bach recognized Eric and his father from a call he was on the previous day at their residence. Ofc. Bach stated that this was not the father’s mental and physical state yesterday. Phoenix Fire and Life-Line Ambulance arrived on scene and EMS personnel tended to Mr. Barkdull, and transported him to Scottsdale Osborn Hospital.
We, the members of the Paradise Valley Police Department, believe that Eric Barkdull should be recognized for his actions that day. His calm, rational thinking and level-headed demeanor not only got his father the necessary medical attention, but possibly averted what could have been a very serious vehicle accident at the intersection. Eric Barkdull is an outstanding citizen of the Town of Paradise Valley.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Outstanding Citizenship Award