Quick action by responding officers using CPR and a defibrillator helped revive a man who collapsed near the Midtown Bridge approach.

Hackensack, NJ – Several Hackensack police officers are being credited with saving the life of a 78-year-old man who suffered cardiac arrest near the Midtown Bridge approach earlier this week.

Key Points

• Officers responded to a report of a man who collapsed and went into cardiac arrest
• Police used CPR, an AED, oxygen, and advanced medical equipment
• The patient was revived before being transported to the hospital

Police said the incident occurred Wednesday when officers were dispatched to the Midtown Bridge approach after receiving a report that an elderly man had fallen and gone into cardiac arrest.

Officers Ryan Conlon and Frank Caneja from the Hackensack Police Emergency Services Unit responded alongside Patrol Bureau Officers Jems Peralta and Robert Oropeza.

Life-saving efforts at the scene

When officers arrived, they immediately began life-saving measures and took over CPR compressions for the patient.

Using an automated external defibrillator, along with a bag-valve-mask and oxygen, the officers were able to successfully resuscitate the man before he was transported to a nearby hospital.

Police said the officers’ advanced medical training played a critical role in the successful rescue.

Advanced training credited

Officers Conlon and Caneja both hold EMT certifications, which the department said helped guide the emergency response during the incident.

All Hackensack police officers receive CPR training, and those with EMT certifications are able to maintain that specialized medical training.

Emergency services teamwork

Hackensack Police also credited the Hackensack Fire Department and Hackensack University Medical Center ALS and BLS teams for assisting at the scene and taking over care of the patient.

Officials said the coordinated response between agencies highlights the importance of teamwork among emergency responders.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

See everything