Teen, Officer Honored For Saving Officer's Life
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- The city of Fort Lauderdale honored a teenager and three Fort Lauderdale Police Officers for helping to save the life of an officer who suffered a heart attack.
The drama unfolded in a booking facility behind the Fort Lauderdale Police Department last September. A surveillance camera captured Fort Lauderdale Police officer Franklin Foulks falling over, suffering a heart attack as he was processing 17-year old Jamal Rutledge on a probation violation.
Seconds later, the video shows Rutledge checking on Foulks and calling for help.
Then, Rutledge, who was handcuffed, started kicking on a door until officers arrived. Officers started CPR, used a defibrillator on Foulks and called for paramedics, helping to save Foulk's life.
READ: Handcuffed Teen Helps Save Officer In Distress
Foulks spoke at a Fort Lauderdale city commission meeting Wednesday where Rutledge and three police officers received commendations from the city for their actions. Foulks singled out Rutledge for decisiveness.
"I think the reason that I'm here now before you, almost fully recovered, is because of the quick actions that Jamal took despite the reasons he was down there," he said. "He made the decision to get someone there."
Rutledge did not want to speak to us after the meeting. But Police Chief Franklin Adderley said even though Rutledge has been arrested before, he made the right decision when he saw Foulks in trouble.
"Jamal has had some history with our department," Addereley said. "He may have had a lot of negative contact with us in the past. I think it's a pure example that if you treat with respect they can later come back and help you in life."
Foulks told the crowd that the group's actions allowed him to spend more time with his family. Foulks' sister said Jamal Rutledge deserves a lot of the credit.
"I'm just grateful, just grateful," said Karen Foulks.
Chief Addereley hopes this moment becomes a life changer for Rutledge.
"No matter what he has done in the past I think people recognize that he has a big heart and he's willing to do good things in the future," Addereley said.
It has not been smooth sailing for Jamal Rutledge since his life saving actions. A police spokesperson said Rutledge has been arrested several more times since then. But the chief of police said the department has received numerous calls from people who want to help Rutledge and the chief hopes the teen uses this opportunity to travel down a different path.
