A life saved, an officer honored

Mayor Curtis Boyd, police Sgt. Keith Cauthen, police Chief Kelvin Washington. PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF DARLINGTON

By Bobby Bryant, Editor

editor@newsandpress.net

Darlington Police Sgt. Keith Cauthen has a way of being in the right place at the right time. Cauthen, a school resource officer at Darlington High School, was working Sept. 2 when he got called over to help a student who had “fallen down on the sidewalk,” Police Chief Kelvin Washington said. It was clear she was choking on something, Washington said. He said the student had already passed out. Cauthen immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver, clearing her airway. Washington credits Cauthen with saving the student’s life. Because of his “heroic actions and quick response, and most important, his bravery, that young lady’s life was saved,” the chief told Darlington City Council Oct. 5. (In a separate incident, Washington said, Cauthen also helped save the life of another student who’d lost consciousness.) Washington and Mayor Curtis Boyd presented Cauthen with an award honoring him for “his courageous act of rendering aid in a sudden and unexpected situation which resulted in the preservation of life.” One tiny problem, though. The award lists Cauthen’s rank as corporal. He’s now been promoted to sergeant, Washington said, adding that it’s a well-deserved second honor for the lifesaving officer.

Author: Stephan Drew

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