A Tuscola County Sheriff’s Deputy was named as 2023 Police Officer of the Year by the Police Officers Association of Michigan, for his quick action in saving a choking woman’s life last year.
On June 22, 2022, Deputy William Webster, Sergeant Jordan Wade, and Deputy Kyle Broecker were attending a training event at Delta College. During their lunch break, they visited a local family restaurant. While there, a panicked waitress approached them, asking them if they knew how to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
Springing into action, all three officers rushed to help an elderly female with her hands around her throat, indicating she could not breathe. Deputy Webster immediately took action and administered abdominal thrusts to dislodge the food from her throat, and quickly, his actions allowed the woman to speak, indicating she could breathe again. She was able to resume her day without needing medical attention.
Deputy Webster has served the Tuscola County community since January 2020, as he was the first to be sponsored through the academy by the department.
