Brownsburg honors bystanders, officers and medics for lifesaving CPR and AED use

Brett Haviland, public information officer for the Brownsburg Fire Territory, told the Town Council that on April 14, 2026 bystanders and first responders performed immediate CPR and used an automated external defibrillator after a vehicle crash on Main Street. The patient, identified in the meeting as Gary Schultz, regained a pulse and was taken to a local hospital for further care.

"Incidents like this demonstrate why early recognition, immediate CPR, and rapid access to an AED are so important during cardiac arrest," Haviland said, citing national survival data and urging community CPR training. He named civilian rescuers Howard Sturmer, Kristen Burton and Mallory Ward and medical personnel including Dr. Ashwani Sharma, Dr. Jim Nossett, Brownsburg Police officers and Brownsburg Fire Territory crews who were present that night.

The council recognized officers and firefighters by presenting lifesaving awards to the named civilians and responders; several council members praised the teamwork and emphasized that community training and coordination mattered. After the presentation, the council invited attendees to a small reception across the street to continue the appreciation.

The awards come amid council discussion of public-safety funding and grant opportunities elsewhere on the agenda; speakers at the meeting referenced the event as an example of how funding and resources affect life‑saving capacity.