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On Saturday, August 29, at approximately 12:44 a.m., the Magee Police DepartmentTy responded to a shooting involving multiple victims, with one person later pronounced deceased.
In the middle of that chaos, Officer Ty Easterling and Officer Brandon Cooper rose to the occasion.
Officer Easterling located one of the victims inside a vehicle suffering from a severe gunshot wound and significant blood loss. He immediately removed the victim from the vehicle and requested a tourniquet from Officer Cooper.
Knowing that severe bleeding can become fatal within minutes, Officer Easterling acted without hesitation. He applied the tourniquet and was able to stop the bleeding.
With ambulances tied up across the county due to the number of shootings that had occurred, Officer Easterling knew there was no time to waste. He placed the victim in his patrol unit and transported him directly to the hospital.
Thankfully, he made it in time.
The victim was later airlifted to another hospital for further treatment. A nurse later credited the tourniquet with saving that victim’s life.
I also want to recognize Dispatchers Mikala Dampeer and Tanya McNair. While our officers were handling the scene, they were behind the radio making sure officers had the personnel, information, and resources they needed. Both did an excellent job during a very serious and chaotic situation and helped keep everything moving the way it needed to.
Dispatching is not an easy job, contrary to what some may believe. Dispatchers are often the first voice of hope a person hears when they call for help, but they are also some of the last people to receive the credit they deserve. They may not always be seen on the scene, but they are a critical part of everything we do.
Police officers also carry many titles. Counselor. Protector. First responder. Problem solver. Sometimes they are the person standing between life and death.
This is exactly why we train. When seconds matter, there may not be time to wait for someone else.
I am proud of Officer Easterling, Officer Cooper, Dispatchers Dampeer and McNair, and every Magee officer who came out that night to assist. I am also thankful for the Simpson County deputies who responded and worked alongside us. When something like this happens, it takes everyone doing their part.
That night, they handled their business, and their actions made a difference.
The more we train, the better we serve.
Chief Denis J. Borges
Magee Police Department
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