The Dalles Police Officer Honored For Her Life Saving Actions Following Vicious Dog Attack
The Dalles Police Officer Karrie Call has been awarded the the Dalles Police Departments Life Saving award due to her life saving actions following a vicious dog attack in April.
Tom Worthy presents Officer Call with the Life Saving Award. Photo from The City of The Dalles Police Department.
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, OR July 17, 2023– The Dalles City Police Chief Tom Worthy, presented Officer Karrie Call with the department’s Life Saving Award at The Dalles City Council meeting on July 14th. The Life Saving Award is given to officers who save a life in the line of duty. The honor was bestowed upon Call for her swift and life saving actions following a vicious dog attack in April.
On April 13th, 2023 The Dalles Police received a 911 report of a vicious dog attacking multiple people on E 13th st in The Dalles. Hardy described the scene at which they arrived as “chaotic” and “graphic”. The dog had already been “dispatched” by the time police arrived and two individuals at the scene were very visibly injured.
Report of the incident to Wasco County 911
Call, who was on duty, responded to the call, and upon arriving she immediately noticed that one of the victims, a 65 year old male, had sustained life threatening injuries. In addition to bite marks on his head, shoulder, and arms, the man’s left arm was a mess of multiple open bone fractures with a near amputation.
Recognizing the man’s life threatening situation, Call initiated first aid. She first applied an emergency tourniquet to stop the man from bleeding out. Then, also recognizing that the man was exhibiting signs of shock, she began to treat him for shock until paramedics arrived.
“Officer Call expertly applied the tourniquet and then did an excellent job in providing calm reassuring care to the victim,” said Worthy.
The man was then transported to OHSU where he underwent multiple surgeries to save his arm before being discharged.
Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief David Jensen said that Officer Call’s actions “Undoubtedly saved this person’s life.”
An MCMC medical doctor agreed adding “Although his recovery will be long and challenging, the quick action of law enforcement likely saved his life. And I would appreciate it if you would pass my thanks on to the law enforcement officer for her life-saving actions.”
“Your actions and those of your peers on April 13th, 2023 reflect great credit upon yourself, the City of the Dalles, and The Dalles Police Department and it’s my honor to present you with the The Dalles Police Department life saving award,” said Worthy during the presentation of the award at the City Council meeting.
The Council gave Call a standing ovation for her hard work.
The Dalles City Council
