10/06/2026
We want to thank the Mayor and City Council for recognizing our officers and Astoria Fire Department firefighters for three incidents in which lives were saved.
On September 22, 2026, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Christopher Brantley, a Chief Warrant Officer with the U.S. Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment, was driving across the Megler Bridge when he noticed a stopped vehicle and a woman standing outside. Chief Brantley chose to stop and check on her. He quickly recognized that she was in crisis and remained with her until police arrived. Throughout the encounter, he stayed calm, attempted to reassure her, and provided responding officers with important information about what was occurring. Initially, he texted his co-workers while talking to her, and they passed it on to 911.
Our responding officers stopped to assist a disabled vehicle at the bottom of the bridge, thinking that it was the one called in. They soon learned there was a separate incident on top of the bridge based on information received from Warrant Officer Brantley’s co-workers.
After moving the first vehicle safely out of traffic, Sergeant Litwin continued to the second vehicle near the top of the bridge. When he arrived, he found a man and a woman standing near the stopped vehicle and close to the bridge railing. The woman stated that she intended to jump from the bridge and attempted to climb over the railing. Sergeant Litwin immediately intervened, grabbed her, and pulled her safely away from the edge.
Officer Khamphouy arrived moments later and helped prevent a second attempt to reach the railing. She was then able to quickly establish rapport with the woman, de-escalate the situation, and ultimately transport her to the hospital for evaluation and access to needed resources.
Although several people called to report what they were seeing, Chief Brantley was the only person who stopped to personally check on the woman before officers arrived. His willingness to intervene likely prevented the situation from escalating before police arrived.
Sergeant Litwin and Officer Khamphouy then demonstrated decisive action, sound judgment, and effective de-escalation during an extremely dangerous and rapidly evolving situation. Their coordinated response prevented the woman from harming herself and helped connect her with appropriate care.
This incident strongly shows how alert citizens, community partners, and law enforcement can work together to save a life.
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On October 4, 2026, at approximately 12:14 a.m., Officer Marone and Officer Brawley were patrolling near the Fort George warehouses. Officer Marone is currently in the Field Training Program, and Officer Brawley was serving as his Field Training Officer.
Despite the darkness and limited lighting, Officer Marone noticed a man lying face down on the sidewalk in an unusual position. The officers immediately stopped to investigate and discovered that the man was unresponsive, not breathing, and had little or no detectable pulse. His skin had turned purple, and his eyes had rolled back.
Recognizing that the man was experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, Officers Marone and Brawley immediately began lifesaving measures. Officer Marone initiated CPR and began chest compressions while Officer Brawley removed layers of clothing and administered two doses of Narcan.
Sergeant Duryea heard the officers announce over the radio that they had located an unresponsive person and were beginning CPR. He arrived and found Officer Marone continuing chest compressions while Officer Brawley provided additional medical care.
Astoria Port Authority Chief Hansen was also on scene, and his vehicle was equipped with an automated external defibrillator (AED). While Officer Marone continued CPR, Sergeant Duryea applied the AED pads and Chief Hansen activated the device. Although the AED did not recommend a shock, the officers continued CPR as directed.
After Officer Marone had performed chest compressions for an extended period, Sergeant Duryea relieved him and continued CPR until fire personnel arrived and assumed medical care.
Fire personnel established an IV and administered additional Narcan. The man eventually regained a strong pulse and began breathing on his own. He later regained consciousness and was transported by Medix Ambulance to Columbia Memorial Hospital for further treatment.
There is little doubt that the outcome would have been very different had Officer Marone not noticed the man lying on the sidewalk that night. His awareness and decision to stop, followed by the immediate and sustained lifesaving actions of the officers and firefighters, gave this individual the opportunity to survive.
Later that same day, shortly after they started another shift on October 4th at 7:37 PM, the Astoria dispatch center sent Officer Sladek, Brawley, and Marone on a call for a male who was slumped over and not breathing well. The officers arrived and initiated patient care. They determined that the patient was not breathing and didn’t have a pulse. Officer Sladek began CPR while the other officers administered three doses of nasal Narcan prior to the arrival of the fire department and ambulance. Around the same time the ambulance and fire department arrived, the patient regained consciousness, had a strong pulse, and was breathing on his own. The patient refused any further care and walked away from the scene.
