Texas Officer and Paramedic Honored for Life-Saving Action

Dec. 10--Cleburne Police Department Cpl. Robert Sigler received the department's Life Saving Bar and certificate at Tuesday night's Cleburne City Council meeting after his life-saving actions on Nov. 6.

But for Sigler's quick thinking that morning, John Peter Smith Hospital surgeons said a Cleburne man involved in a traffic accident would likely have died.

John Echols, 38, was traveling to work on his motorcycle at about 6:45 a.m. on Industrial Boulevard when a truck turned in front of and struck him.

Witnesses later told police that they had the truck driver back up so they could flip the motorcycle off of Echols.

Sigler, who was the first on scene, assessed the situation. Noting open fractures and heavy bleeding, Sigler grabbed a tourniquet from his patrol motorcycle and applied it to Echols' leg.

JPS trauma surgeons later said that Sigler's actions not only saved Echols' life but his leg as well. Echols has since left the hospital.

Echols' sister, Alanna Alexander, said her brother continues to have to watch his leg and arm but is improving.

"I'm, our whole family, is so thankful that [Sigler] showed up when he did and knew what to do," Alexander said. "Especially when we heard from the ER doctors that my brother would have bled out and died otherwise, just thank God he was there."

Several CPD officers and staff members were on hand Tuesday night as CPD Chief Rob Severance presented the certificate to Sigler joined by CPD assistant chiefs Danny Rogers and Amy Knoll.

The tourniquets were issued to officers a little over a year ago, CPD Lt. Gary Moseley said. Moseley, who is also a paramedic, recommended the idea based on his experience as a medic in the Navy Reserve. Moseley, who conducted training classes on the proper use of tourniquets earlier this year, said the Nov. 6 incident is the first time a Cleburne officer has had to use a tourniquet in the field.

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