VIDEO (26:53): Arlington Heights firefighter/paramedics that saved the life of police officer Michael McEvoy were presented with awards for their actions by grateful police officers from the Arlington Heights Patrol Officers Association at a dinner at the American Legion Hall, 121 North Douglas Avenue Thursday night.
When Arlington Heights police officer Michael McEvoy was shot on the evening of December 12, 2013, McEvoy’s injuries were far more dire than initially revealed. Dramatic medical efforts were provided by paramedics, and police and firefighter instincts were instrumental in the saving of McEvoy’s life — a police officer requested a paramedic response before the report of an officer down, and an extra rescue ambulance crew responded on their own initiative when they heard a police officer was shot.
Stalker Eric Anderson shot Arlington Heights Police Officer Michael McEvoy, 52, after McEvoy entered the home, who was responding to a report of a “man with a gun,” according to an official release from Arlington Heights Police Department in December 2013. McEvoy was within a few blocks of the townhouse where the shots were fired when he was assigned and dispatched to the call.
At a dinner at the American Legion Hall at 121 North Douglas Avenue Thursday night, Arlington Heights Police Department Financial Crimes Investigator Todd Radek, speaking on behalf of the Arlington Heights Patrol Officers Association, explained details of the medical treatment by firefighter/paramedics after Michael McEvoy was shot.
When McEvoy arrived, he heard gunfire and women screaming. He entered the townhouse and helped two women evacuate. He re-entered the townhouse to try to retrieve a third woman and was immediately shot — receiving a gunshot wound in the throat and face. Backup officers Kevin Sullivan, Michael Turano and Doug Glanz responded seconds later. Sullivan and Turano dragged McEvoy out of the townhouse, down the driveway and into the street while Doug Glanz provided cover. Then Deputy Fire Chief and current Arlington Heights Fire Chief Ken Koeppen, who happened to be nearby, heard the commotion and responded to help.
“I watched Mike die, and they brought him back.”
— Police officer statement in the days following the shooting
Firefighter/paramedic Bill Casper drove Arlington Heights Fire Department Ambulance 2 down Windham Court with partner Mark Harris directly into a dangerous zone within the range of potential additional gunfire.
McEvoy at this point was not breathing and was without a pulse. He was immediately moved from the street to Ambulance 2. Mark Harris took over applying direct pressure to McEvoy’s wound from then Deputy Chief Ken Koeppen’s initial application, and began ventilation.
Firefighter/paramedic Bill Casper suctioned McEvoy’s airway and drilled Mike’s leg using a procedure known as intraosseous infusion (IO), which involves drilling a route directly into bone marrow to deliver the same fluids and drugs that are also delivered by intravenous routes (IV). The crew from Ambulance 2 then began CPR.
Squad 2 firefighter/paramedic, now Lt. Dave Roberts, then worked with the massively injured and obstructed airway and successfully established an alternate airway via McEvoy’s nasal passage. Gregg Wikierak also established an IV, and Bill Yowell set up equipment and distributed IV and IO supplies, and other medical supplies.
Joe Forde, John Simon and Lt. Will Rodgers provided additional support, and Battalion Chief Bill Kidd provided command of the scene — overseeing safety, communications with Northwest Central Dispatch, coordination of transportation to Level I Trauma Center Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, and coordination of the future standby operations that would be needed for the police operations with the barricaded gunman.
Firefighter/paramedic Scott Limbers initially assigned to Engine 2 took the driver’s seat of Ambulance 2 while the rescue ambulance departed for Lutheran General with an extra amount of firefighter/paramedic crew members. Battalion Chief Bill Kidd reported to police command that the situation was grim. Replacement of fluids and CPR was underway during transport to the hospital.
A faint pulse was detected en route to Lutheran General Hospital while Lt. Will Rodgers, John Simon and Battalion Chief provided standby support for police tactical units responding for the standoff incident for the gunman still in the townhouse.
McEvoy was further stabilized at the Level I Trauma center, underwent emergency surgery, and required 16 days in intensive care and additional surgeries. He is expected to resume work as a police officer early 2015, and was at the dinner Thursday night to greet the firefighter/paramedics who saved his life. Some hadn’t seen him since the nearly deadly night.
9-1-1 telephone audio of hostage incident when an Arlington Heights police officer was shot an critically injured and a female victim as held hostage by ex-boyfriend Eric Anderson.
Arlington Heights Police Officer Michael McEvoy was named the L.W. Calderwood Officer of the Year in March 2014 by the Arlington Heights Police Department. The annual award is presented to an Arlington Heights police officer demonstrating the most significant contributions that year toward the overall betterment of the community. McEvoy also received an Award of Valor for his bravery for entering a home when he heard shots fired. He entered because he wanted to stop a gunman from possibly killing someone.
Police report Eric Anderson was shot and killed by a NIPAS response team when he failed to surrender and when he confronted police with dangerous behavior the same night he shot McEvoy.
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