Deputy, SRO and now – lifesaver

For most school children, the school resource officer (SRO) in their school is a friendly face they see almost daily. Pleasant greetings and brief conversations are exchanged between them as they go about their usual day.

As the new school year began on August 19, School Resource Officer (SRO) Deputy Johnathan Wyatt of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, found himself happily meeting new students at the elementary school and welcoming returning students by resuming his duties as the school’s SRO. This year marks Deputy Wyatt’s 27^th year as a deputy serving the Middlesex communities where he grew up. And this is his sixth year as SRO serving the children, staff and families of MES. 

However, this school year was to begin differently. During the first week of school, among the normal sounds of students enjoying their lunch, one student silently stood up from his lunch table — his hands around his throat. The student was choking on food and could not speak or breathe.

Without hesitation, Deputy Wyatt assessed the situation and began performing the Heimlich maneuver. When the initial action failed to help, Wyatt rushed the student out of the cafeteria, taking him to an area where he could call for more help and also help prevent the alarming scene from traumatizing young onlookers. 

Deputy Wyatt, with the aid of the school nurse Marcie Eberline, continued performing the Heimlich maneuver. After a few intense moments, third-grader Brennan Parker was able to breathe again.

Second time 

The following week Deputy Wyatt found himself once again confronted with a life and death situation as another student jumped up from his seat at the table that he and Deputy Wyatt shared and silently signaled that he was choking.

This time the child was a second grader, Chandler Hollingshead. With three swift and well direct abdominal thrusts, Deputy Wyatt dislodged the offending piece of apple, and Chandler began coughing. After whisking him out of the cafeteria for further examination and help, the young student began to breathe normally.

---

“I believe building trust and relationships with the kids is one of the most important aspects of my job,” Deputy Wyatt said.

“Some kids are afraid of law enforcement officers or just don’t know what to think about us. My job as an SRO gives me an opportunity to let kids see that we (deputies) are here to help. Small problems or big problems, I can help.” 

---

“Heart stopping”

When Deputy Wyatt was asked to reflect on each incident, he shared, “When the student jumped up and motioned that they couldn’t breathe, it was a heart stopping moment and I’m grateful I was there to help.” Wyatt added that these kinds of unforeseen situations are exactly why he does his very best to never miss a minute of school…

(Rachel Easter is social media manager for the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office.)