FMPD officer named ‘Officer of the Year’ for heroic rescue

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The South Fort Myers Rotary Club named a Fort Myers police officer “Officer of the Year” at the City Council meeting at the Lee County Alliance for the Arts on on Oct. 17.

Officer Cassie McHale, who won the FPCA Lifesaving Award earlier this month, was recognized for her heroic efforts and consistent enthusiasm for her job.

Nominated by Bayshore Fire & Rescue Chief Lawrence Nesbit, Officer McHale was honored for her part in rescuing the victim of a car accident last February.

The car was submerged in a retention pond near I-75. Chief Nesbit’s crew was in the process of conducting a rescue operation when Office McHale, who was off duty, pulled over in her personal vehicle to help.

Even though she was eight months pregnant, she entered the water and helped firefighters remove the driver, who was going into cardiac arrest.

Officer Nesbit said that her efforts helped give the victim a chance to survive.

“Officer McHale assisted in removing the patient from the vehicle and bringing the patient to shore where CPR was established and advanced life support care was initiated,” Officer Nesbit said. “Officer McHale not only represented her profession with bravery and without concern to her personal safety, but also represented the Fort Myers Police Department with the highest level of service.”

The patient was eventually resuscitated in the medic unit with a stable heart rate and stable blood pressure.