On August 25, 2021, Fremont Police Officers responded to a report of a shooting on Winnipeg Terrace. The reporting party told Dispatch that a male victim had been shot in the head and might be deceased. Officer Higgins had just finished his regular duty assignment shift on MET and volunteered to holdover to assist with Patrol staffing.Officer Higgins responded to the shooting scene and was one of the first units to arrive. Officer Higgins and Officer Wilson located the victim on the ground in a carport area, bleeding profusely from an obvious head wound. Relying on his years of EMT and TEMS training, Officer Higgins retrieved his TEMS medical bag and immediately began assessing the victim. The scene was hectic and with limited resources available Officer Higgins demonstrated calm determination under pressure.
Officer Higgins recognized the severity of the wounds and heard the victim exhibiting strained breathing. He knew artificial respirations could give the victim a chance of survival. Officer Higgins retrieved a bag-valve mask from his medical bag and started providing rescue breathing for the victim. A weak but steady pulse was detected. When Fremont Fire Department and Falck personnel arrived Officer Higgins briefed them on the victim’s condition but kept providing respirations the entire time. He turned over primary patient care to fellow TEMS teammate FFD Fire Captain Ryan Viss but continued to assist in medical treatment. Officer Higgins rode in the Falck ambulance to San Jose Regional Hospital and never left the victim’s side, and never stopped his trauma care until in relieved by hospital staff.
Several Officers and Sergeants at the scene of this shooting commented on the expertise and professionalism that Officer Higgins exhibited. In addition to rendering medical aid, Officer Higgins also provided medical treatment instruction and guidance to an Officer in field training during this call. Officer Wilson believed the victim would have surely died if Officer Higgins had not been on scene.
The victim sustained substantial injuries and was in critical condition for several days. Initial reports from the hospital were bleak about his prognosis. The victim eventually began to improve and is still alive today. Emergency Room doctors at San Jose Regional Hospital remarked that FPD and FFD medical interventions were essential to the victim’s survival. ER doctors held a trauma review panel in the weeks after this incident and invited Officer Higgins and TEMS Supervisor Sergeant Taylor. Although Officer Higgins downplayed his role in this incident, Sergeant Taylor relayed that ER doctors believed the victim would have undoubtedly died if not for Officer Higgins’ medical treatment.
As impressive as Officer Higgins’ performance was in this incident, it was not his first or second save during this shift. On 6/30/21 Officer Higgins and Officer Farmer administered Narcan to a male subject who was non-responsive and experiencing an opioid overdose. They provided rescue breathing and the male regained consciousness. On 7/2/21 Officer Higgins, along with Officer Swiecki, used his CIT skills to de-escalate a suicidal woman who wanted to jump off an overpass. Once she was a safe distance away from the edge, they seized on a window of opportunity to intervene and detain her.
Officer Higgins consistently shows an exemplary work ethic which is noticed by many. His enthusiasm for his position in MET is truly admirable, especially when considering some of the less attractive aspects of the role. Officer Higgins is a quiet professional who has the respect of his peers and supervisors alike. It is for all the above reasons I believe Officer Ryan Higgins is worthy of being recognized as our Officer of the Month.
Respectfully submitted,
Sergeant Nino Stillitano