FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   April 29, 2002

LANSING. The Michigan State Police Board of Awards is pleased to announce D/F/Lt. William J. Ford of the Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team is a recipient of the Michigan State Police Lifesaving Award. He is credited with administering first aid to save the life of another. 

On Nov. 20, 2001, while at a local fitness center, D/F/Lieutenant Ford was summoned by a distressed female whose husband was lying on the floor next to an exercising machine. Without hesitation, D/F/Lieutenant Ford assessed that the victim had a pulse and was breathing sporadically. Moments later, the subject stopped breathing and had no pulse. D/F/Lieutenant Ford, with the assistance of a bystander, performed CPR on the victim until paramedics arrived.

In presenting this award, the Michigan State Police Board of Awards recognizes that D/F/Lieutenant Ford’s quick actions and knowledge of first aid techniques were instrumental in saving the victim’s life.

D/F/Lieutenant Ford enlisted with the department in 1978 as a member of the 95^th Recruit School. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Battle Creek Post and later went on to serve at the Coldwater Post, Fifth District Headquarters in Paw Paw, and the Michigan State Police Fifth District Fugitive Team. D/F/Lieutenant Ford is currently section commander of the South West Enforcement Team, a multi-jurisdictional drug team in Battle Creek.

A native of Owosso, D/F/Lieutenant Ford holds a Bachelor of Psychology from Western Michigan University. He has one daughter, Kathleen.

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