Sgt. Shawna Aymod of the Lake Charles Police Department has been recognized for her actions during a recent life-saving incident.

On Thursday, Aug. 1, Sgt. Aymond was driving her fully marked police vehicle in the 3500 block of Gerstner Memorial Drive when a frantic mother flagged her down. The mother, who was experiencing a language barrier, was seeking help for her infant who had stopped breathing. Without hesitation, Aymond immediately called into dispatch requesting an ambulance and began life saving measures on the infant.

Aymond’s administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and attempts at the Heimlich maneuver were instrumental in restoring the infant’s breathing.

Aymond is assigned to the Community Policing Division at the Lake Charles Police Department and is also a certified Cops N’ Cribs officer. Following the incident, she contacted the Southwest Louisiana Safe Sleep Task Force to request assistance in providing the family with safe sleep education. She and a task force member followed up with a visit to the hospital to meet the family and offer vital information, using a translator to bridge the language gap. The family received a free Pack N’ Play portable crib through the partnership with the National Cribs for Kids Safe Sleep Initiative.

Aymond’s actions not only saved a life but also demonstrated her dedication to ensuring that the family was educated and equipped with the necessary resources to create a safer environment for their child.

“Sgt. Aymond represents the best of the Lake Charles Police Department, so I was not surprised to learn of the immediate actions she took to save this infant’s life and then steps she took to follow up with the family,” said Chief Shawn Caldwell. “On a daily basis Sgt. Aymond pours her heart into her role of serving the community. She represents the very definition of what it means to be a community police officer—an officer who engages with the community through partnerships and problem-solving techniques, encouraging interactive relationships between law enforcement agencies and the people they serve. We are extremely proud of Sgt. Aymond and thank her for her many years of service to the Lake Charles Police Department and the city of Lake Charles.”