Members of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribal Council, Snoqualmie Tribal Police Chief Gene Fenton and staff joined King County Sheriff John Urquhart and King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert at the Snoqualmie Casino on Friday, May 19th to mark the donation of 150 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) —enough to equip all remaining King County Sheriff patrol cars that lack them.
The donation was spurred by an event earlier this year when King County deputies equipped with an AED were able to save the life of a fellow officer who suffered a heart attack while struggling with a DUI suspect. At that time, Sheriff Urquhart expressed a desire to see all King County Sheriff patrol cars equipped with the life-saving devices.
Learning of the need, Tribal Council Member Richard Zambrano worked with the Tribal Council and Police Chief Fenton to have the Tribe purchase enough AEDs to meet the shortfall in the Tribe’s partner police department.
“We have a strong government-to-government relationship with King County and the Sheriff’s Department,” said Police Chief Gene Fenton. “These are important life-saving tools for officers to have available on the street. By reaching out to assist King County we help everyone in the broader community in which we live.”
The Tribe provided over $180,000 to order the AEDs for the King County Sheriff patrol cars, all Snoqualmie Tribal Public Safety vehicles and other needs.
“The Snoqualmie Tribe’s generous donation of AEDs will undoubtedly save lives,” said Sheriff John Urquhart. “Our patrol deputies are often in the position to respond quickly to life threatening emergencies where an AED can make a difference. Having each of our patrol cars equipped is bound to make a difference to our community.”
“Having AEDs readily available and moving around my district in our sheriff patrol cars is one more tool for protecting people’s lives,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert. “This is a great aspect of community policing, another example of partnering with our fire and paramedic partners. Thank you to the Snoqualmie tribe for your generosity and deep care for our communities.”
[The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Known as the People of the Moon, Snoqualmie tribal members were signatories to the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855. The Tribe owns and operates the Snoqualmie Casino and the Crescent Market at Snoqualmie.]
Comments
This was very generous of the Snoqualmie tribe, thank you!