Officer Honored for Saving Baby's Life

When Acworth Police Officer Timothy Arnold arrived at a call in April to find a 15-month-old not breathing after falling nine feet, it took less than a minute for him to stabilize the child’s cervical spine and instruct the mother how to clear out the baby’s airway with a bulb syringe.

Instinct just kicked in, said the 6-year police veteran who is credited with saving the baby’s life.

“I wanted to make sure that baby was able to breathe and would be OK,” Arnold said.

At Thursday night's Board of Aldermen meeting, Arnold received the American Police Hall of Fame’s Life Saving Award.

“It’s a huge honor,” Arnold said. “It means a lot. I’ve responded to emergency calls before but never had an actual hand in anything like that before.”

Lt. Curtis Endicott said that the child went through two skull surgeries to repair fractures after the fall.

“The child is making a full recovery today, and all this is due to the efforts of Officer Arnold,” Endicott said. “It’s an honor to work with these guys. Even though Officer Arnold was the first on the scene, I don’t think it’s anything any of our other officers wouldn’t do.”

Arnold, who said he had no idea he was getting the award, received a medal, certificate and ribbon.

“It feels really good,” he said.

Also at the meeting, the police department gave a check for $22,569.89 to the Horizon League. The funds were raised during this year’s Covering the Bases, a 24-hour event in which people continuously run or walk around the bases at Horizon Field at the Acworth Sports Complex. The money is used to fund the Horizon League’s operating budget. Any additional funds go into the league’s long-term fund.

This is the fifth year the Acworth Police Department has hosted the fundraiser. One hundred percent of the funds raised from concessions, raffles, a silent auction and other areas go to the Horizon League.

“It’s just a group of officers who got together and asked, ‘How can we give back?’” Captain Tony Bailey said.

Steve Prather with the Special Needs Development Group said that, as the parent of a special needs child, this event is huge from a parent's perspective.

"Thank you for all you do, protecting us and keeping us safe and (helping) the children in this community," Prather told the police officers present at the meeting.

In other business, the council:

• Approved an amendment to the city’s cable communications ordinance;
• Approved of contract with Cobb County School District for the “Success for All Students” Grant Project and accepted a $15,000.00 donation to the Acworth Achievers Mentoring and After School Program;
• Approved the re-authorization of a change order with Lewallen Construction Co. in an amount not to exceed $103,231.55 for construction services related to the Tanyard Creek Park Multi-use Trail Contract, which will be reimbursed through the Community Development Block Grant Program.
• Approved an agreement with AMEC Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc., for professional services related to design work for the portion of the Tanyard Creek Park Multi-use Trail connecting the pedestrian bridge over Tanyard Creek to School Street;
• Approved the use of Proctor Landing Park by Cub Scout Pack 350 for a family campout November 9-11;
• Approved the use of Proctor Landing Park by Cub Scout Pack 412 for a Polar Bear Campout November 2-4;
• Approved the use of Proctor Landing Park by Marietta Pathfinders for a family campout November 16-18;
• Voted to enter into an agreement with Georgia Quick Bail, Inc., to underwrite appearance bonds for inmates at the Acworth City Jail;
• Approved acquisition agreement and documents for ROW/Easements for 4849 and 4845 S. Main Street for the Senator Russell Avenue Phase 2 Project;
• Approved a Pole Attachment License Agreement for Distribution Poles with Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC and authorize the Mayor to sign a 12-year term agreement;
• Adopted a resolution to change the deductible on HMO and POS medical insurance plans;
• And, recognized the Acworth Police Department’s new members.

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