The Bartlesville City Council recognized six Hillcrest Country Club golfers for their heroic efforts to help search for and provide CPR to a young boy who had been reported missing on April 16.
Those recognized were Thad Freidman, Peter Emmitt, Bon Bennett, Jack Williams, Craig Flowers and John Donoghue.
On April 16, Bartlesville Police responded to the 1200 block of Hampden Square, near Hillcrest Country Club, for a reported missing 3-year-old autistic and nonverbal child. Several officers
responded to the area and began searching for the missing child. The six golfers immediately began helping officers in the search and were the first to locate the boy submerged in a pond on the golf course. They pulled him from the water and began CPR.
Police officers and firefighters were also recognized for their efforts, including, from Bartlesville Police
Department, Sgt. Jarred Burdick, Sgt. Caleb Samson and School Resource Officer Maggie Blevins, and from Bartlesville Fire Department, Capt. Jacob Hickok, Driver Trevor Rabbitt, Firefighter Jerison Monday and Firefighter Matthew Larson.
The child was transported to Jane Phillips Hospital and then transferred to a Tulsa hospital, where he died the following morning.
“I can assure you this was one of the worst days for these men and women, and that’s why we’re recognizing them tonight,” said Police Chief Kevin Ickleberry. “They stepped in and took heroic actions to try to save this young boy. They are a great example of what we all should be.”