From: Christopher P. Reddy – Chief of Police
TO: Commanding Officers, All Divisions
Please Read at all Roll Calls
I would like to commend the following officers who provided immediate and high-quality life-sustaining medical assistance to a child victim; and then provided valuable investigative support that resulted in the arrest of the individual responsible for the child’s injuries:
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- Officer Sean Coppinger
- Officer Kevin Chasse
- Officer Michael Donovan
On Thursday February 29, 2024, at approximately 2112 hours, Officers Michael Donovan and Kevin Chasse (Car 15) were dispatched to a Broad Street address on a report of a child not breathing. Officer Sean Coppinger (Car 10) was in the area and also responded, and was the first officer on scene. As Officer Coppinger exited his marked cruiser, the hysterical parents of the six-year old male victim rushed out of the residence with their unconscious/unresponsive child cradled in his father’s arms. Officer Coppinger directed them to bring the c h i l d inside to the front vestibule as he grabbed his medical bag and followed them.
Officer Coppinger quickly assessed t h e child, updated Lynn Control, and began providing life sustaining CPR within a minute of his arrival. Seconds later he was joined by Officers Donovan and Chasse, and they acted immediately to assist him. Officer Coppinger provided chest compressions while Officer Chasse gave rescue breaths. During this time, Officer Donovan attached the defibrillator to the child and “No Shock Advised” was received. The officers immediately resumed providing CPR to the child and continued their assessment in an effort to determine the cause of his condition. Moments later Lynn Fire/EMS arrived on scene. The officers continued to provide CPR as they provided information to the medics before transferring care of the victim. The officers then assisted in carrying the child outside to a stretcher and he was placed in an ambulance for transport to the hospital.
Due to the serious nature of the child’s unknown medical condition, Officer Coppinger followed Medic 1 to Salem Hospital, and during transport the child went into cardiac arrest. Upon arrival at the hospital the unconscious child was intubated, and the ER staff were subsequently able to obtain a steady pulse. The child was stabilized, although he remained in critical condition.
During that time, Officer Chasse and Officer Donovan, along with Sergeant Mark Nerich, remained at the Broad Street location, and continued the investigation. The officers accompanied the child’s parents to the father’s apartment where the child was initial stricken. They explained to the parents that due to the child’s unknown medical condition at that time, they would have to secure the scene. The officers demonstrated compassion and professionalism to the parents as they gathered information to further the investigation, including a detailed account of what occurred leading up to the incident. The officers then transported the child’s mother to the hospital as Sergeant Nerich and additional personnel continued to secure the scene pending the arrival of detectives.
Over the course of the next three hours, Officer Coppinger remained at the hospital and provided ongoing updates of the child’s condition to Sergeant Nerich at the scene, including that the child had tested positive for fentanyl and confirming that he had suffered an overdose.
Detectives from the Lynn Police and the Massachusetts State Police subsequently arrived on scene to investigate, and upon being informed that the victim tested positive for fentanyl, detectives secured the apartment, pending a search warrant. The father was then brought to the Lynn Police Station, where he was interviewed with the assistance of Officer Belsar Gonzalez providing translation. search warrant was subsequently granted, and detectives located a significant quantity of drugs and a large capacity barrel magazine.
In the days following, Lynn Fire EMS personnel expressed compliments to the responding officers for their efforts during this incident stating, “the officers were very involved and performed good CPR and AED use when LED units arrived on scene.” Detectives from CID also advised that the responding officers did a tremendous job working together at a chaotic scene surrounded by highly emotional family members and neighbours. The child was hospitalized for more than one month as a result of this incident, but he is now expected to make a full recovery.
The immediate response by Officer Sean Coppinger, Officer Michael Donovan and Officer Kevin Chasse, along with their quick assessment of the victim’s condition and prompt rendering of critical medical aid were essential in sustaining this child’s life until he could be transported to a higher level of medical treatment. The officers demonstrated outstanding teamwork and communication skills, as they worked together t o provide high quality care. In addition, after the child had been transferred to EMS, the officers acted with professionalism and dedication to duty as they transitioned to gather essential information, SO that detectives could efficiently and effectively continue their investigation. It is due to their efforts that this child made a full recovery, and that the individual responsible was appropriately charged.
I hereby order that Officer Sean Coppinger, Officer Michael Donovan and Officer Kevin Chasse be commended for their actions, with a copy of this Commendation to be placed in each of their personnel files.