MISSION, Ore. – Two Umatilla Tribal Police Department officers, Officer Ryan Bernards and Officer Paul Heimbach, received commendations for saving lives on separate occasions.

Officer Ryan Bernards was recognized for saving an infant from choking while patrolling the Teepee Village on September 13.

During Bernards’s patrol that day, a group of children came up to him and told him an infant was choking.

They led him to the choking baby and Bernards got rid of the choking hazard using a “finger sweep,” according to a release by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Once the baby was breathing again, Bernards stayed on scene until medical personnel arrived. The baby was brought to CHI St. Anthony's Hospital for evaluation.

“This is a great example of the work police

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