Toms River, NJ – Two Toms River Police Department officers and a township EMS crew are being credited with saving the life of a 51-year-old man after responding to a medical emergency at a residence in Ortley Beach.
According to the department, police communications received a report on Tuesday, June 30, of an unresponsive man who was not breathing at a home in the borough section of Toms River.
Patrolman Peter Saker was dispatched immediately. Special Law Enforcement Officer II Frank Palino, who was working a nearby special duty assignment, heard the call over the radio and responded without delay.
Officers begin CPR within minutes
Saker and Palino arrived together less than two minutes after the initial dispatch and found the 51-year-old man without a pulse and not breathing.
The officers immediately began lifesaving measures, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and administering two shocks using an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Moments later, the township’s Community Service Officer EMS crew, assigned to Med-5, arrived and joined the rescue effort. Working alongside the officers, the EMS team continued high-quality CPR while delivering additional AED shocks.
The patient’s condition improved significantly during the resuscitation effort before he was transported to Community Medical Center. Police said he was expected to recover.
Officers praised for lifesaving response
The department commended both officers for their actions during the emergency.
“Patrolman Saker and Officer Palino are to be commended for their expert administration of essential life-saving first aid during this incident,” the department said. “If not for their efforts, the patient would have certainly experienced a less positive outcome.”
Expanded EMS coverage credited with rapid response
The incident also highlights the role of Toms River’s Community Service Officer EMS program, which has expanded in recent years to provide additional emergency medical coverage throughout the township.
The expansion of the CSO EMS program was supported by Mayor Daniel T. Rodrick, who advocated for increasing the number of township emergency medical personnel to improve response times and supplement traditional emergency services. Township officials have said the additional staffing has helped expand medical coverage across Toms River, particularly during periods of high call volume and the busy summer season.
Cardiac arrest survival depends heavily on immediate CPR and rapid defibrillation. Medical experts consistently emphasize that early intervention by first responders, combined with prompt advanced medical care, significantly improves a patient’s chances of survival and recovery.
