Dispatcher One Moment, Life-Saver Another

It took Titus County (Tex.) sheriff’s dispatcher Sue Kruse just seconds to transition from her usual job of taking emergency telephone calls and radioing field units, to saving a man’s life with the Heimlich maneuver. An Oklahoma man had come to the sheriff’s office for help in getting back home. As he sat in the sheriff’s office lobby, he popped a piece of hard candy in his mouth, but it went down the wrong way and the man began choking. Behind the front counter window, Kruse could see and hear the man’s slow realization that he was in trouble. When the gasping man tapped on the glass window, Kruse was out the door to the man’s aid. With a Heimlich thrust, the candy popped out. Sheriff Tim Ingram honored Kruse with a commendation, noting how quickly and calmly she reacted. Kruse was humble, saying, “I’m just a regular dispatcher.” She said the victim’s “thank you” was enough recognition for her. Sheriff Ingram said, “We’re awfully proud of her.” Watch a video here.