Wheaton Police Honored for Saving Lives

Wheaton City Council on Monday stood in applause after recognizing three Wheaton police officers and a resident who saved lives last year.

Kristina Pariso received the Civilian Police Lifesaving Award for saving a choking child's life. On Nov. 28, an eight-year-old was choking on a piece of candy. When her mother yelled for help, Pariso saved the child's life with an abdominal thrust, said Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk.

Part-time Officer John Pappas received a lifesaving award for saving a child who had overdosed on drugs. On Oct. 1, Pappas responded to a call reporting "suspicious" kids at Seven Gables Park and found an unconscious kid who had overdosed, Gresk said. With cardio pulmonary resuscitation, he saved the kid's life.

Officers Thomas Sommerfield and Jill Uhlir received the lifesaving awards for saving someone from jumping four stories to their death.

On Oct. 30, Sommerfield and Uhlir were dispatched to the fourth story of a parking garage, where an individual was threatening to commit suicide, Gresk said. "From verbal and physical interaction," they successfully got the person down from the ledge and saved his life.