SIDNEY, Neb. -- A Cheyenne County Deputy saved a life thanks to new AED technology.

On July 5th, Deputy Zachary Goodrich was presented with the Life Savers Certificate and a Challenge Coin as a token of appreciation.

Goodrich said on May 20th he responded to a call regarding an unresponsive female, who was still unresponsive after CPR.

Goodrich said was able to shock her with the Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and after the shock, the woman started breathing.

The Cheyenne County Sheriff's Department was able to put AEDs in the back of patrol vehicles due to the trust they accepted.

Emergency Services Program Manager Becka Neumiller said in 2021 the Leora M and Harry B Charitable Trust granted the Department of Health and Human Services $6.4 million dollars for AEDs.

Neumiller said over 2,500 AEDs were put in the back of law enforcement vehicles state wide.

“It’s actually been a very successful initiative,” Neumiller said. “We’ve had multiple saves with law enforcement that may not have had that good outcome without the AEDs and the officer’s intervention.”

Neumiller said research from The American Heart Association showed that if someone goes into cardiac arrest, every minute they go without CPR or an AED their chances of surviving go down 10 percent.

Cheyenne County Sheriff Adam Frerichs said the department is excited to work with the Department of Emergency Services to put AEDs in vehicles.

Neumiller said the AEDs are state-of-the-art technology.

“It’s very impressive technology,” Frerichs said. “Most of the time law enforcement is going to be first on scene so it’s very important they have those AEDs.”