Montesano police officers honored for heroic actions

Officers O’Connor, Gillies receive awards for actions that helped save lives

By Ryan Sparks • September 23, 2020 3:30 pm
Montesano police officers Marcus O’Connor, left, and James Gillies were honored on Tuesday at the Montesano City Council meeting for life saving actions they took in two separate incidents over the summer. Pictured with the officers are, from left, Dustin Bruland, his sons Andrew, Caleb and Peter, and wife Heather (daughter Hannah not pictured). Gillies helped to save Bruland’s life by administering CPR after the 41-year-old fell unconscious in his garage on June 9. (Ryan Sparks | The Daily World)
Montesano police officers Marcus O’Connor, left, and James Gillies were honored on Tuesday at the Montesano City Council meeting for life saving actions they took in two separate incidents over the summer. Pictured with the officers are, from left, Dustin Bruland, his sons Andrew, Caleb and Peter, and wife Heather (daughter Hannah not pictured). Gillies helped to save Bruland’s life by administering CPR after the 41-year-old fell unconscious in his garage on June 9. (Ryan Sparks | The Daily World)

The Montesano Police Department honored two of its finest at a city council meeting Tuesday for heroic actions they took to save lives.

Officers James Gillies and Marcus O’Connor each received a Life Saver Award, presented to them by Chief Brett Vance in front of the Montesano City Council and several other officers and onlookers.

Gillies responded to a call of an unconscious man lying in the garage of his home on Bowe Drive the morning of June 9.

When Gillies arrived, a neighbor was performing CPR on Dustin Bruland, a 41-year-old husband and father of four who collapsed after a morning jog with his three sons and one daughter.

Gillies sprang into action and took over administering CPR on Bruland until a medical team arrived.

Gillies said his training kicked in during those tense moments.

“I could hear our fire chief, Corey Rux, telling us how to do chest compressions,” Gillies said as his mind automatically recalled the yearly CPR training sessions his department does in conjunction with the fire department. “There was no response while I was there. I was just trying to keep his heart and blood pumping until the aid crew got there. I wasn’t going to stop until medical professionals said it was time to pull the plug.”

Medical personnel arrived and transported Bruland to a medical facility where he was able to make a full recovery.

Bruland and his family were in attendance on Tuesday as Gillies received a Life Saver Award.

“I’m very thankful for me and my family and it’s good to see people that go above and beyond be rewarded for what they are doing,” Bruland said. “This wasn’t in his job description at all, he could have left it up to the medics. But to have people in our community care enough to do something is great.”

Bruland, who has no recollection of the event or the days shortly after he awoke in the hospital, said he was initially stunned when informed of what had happened.

“It was total shock and disbelief,” said Bruland, who added he eats healthy and exercises regularly. “Then I was overwhelmed and humbled a little bit, but now I just say grateful and thankful is how we feel.”

Bruland and his family felt it was important to be in attendance on Tuesday to show support for the officer who helped save his life and the department as a whole.

“It’s great to be here in general,” Bruland joked before taking on a more sentimental tone. “(We are here) to show support (for Gillies) but also to show support for the community and the police and everybody in this community. It’s just great to be here. I wish there was more we could do, but just to be here is great.”

Gillies, who has more than 15 years of experience on the force, said the results couldn’t have turned out better.

“It’s the first time I had an opportunity to do CPR and it was a great outcome,” he said. “It really does solidify the reason we are all doing this. It’s to help our community. We grew up here. We love it here and that’s why we do it.”

Fire rescue

O’Connor was honored for his actions in response to a structure fire the night of July 14. After responding to the call, O’Connor saw flames and smoke coming from a building on Pioneer Avenue. The officer was told there were people still inside the building and quickly began clearing the structure, room by room, in an effort to get any remaining occupants to safety.

The third room O’Connor entered contained a wheelchair-bound individual who had just awakened and was unaware of the severity of the situation.

With smoke and flames bearing down on them, O’Connor hurriedly got the man to safety shortly before the structure became fully engulfed in flames.

“There were witnesses saying there were people inside, so that was my immediate concern. I was glad that I was there in a short amount of time,” O’Connor said of the harrowing emergency. “I feel bad for the people that lost their property and home, but I’m just glad nobody was hurt.”

A veteran officer with more than 20 years of experience on the force, O’Connor was grateful for being honored.

“I appreciate the city and chief for recognizing me. I’m just doing my job. It was just another day, doing what I normally do. I’m just glad I was there,” he said before reflecting on his thoughts after exiting a burning building. “It’s always gratifying to know that you can help somebody or save somebody’s life, but the initial reaction was I was just glad everybody was safe at that point. That was our concern.”