Hero Cop Honored at City Council Meeting

The Arcadia City Council along with the honored Officer Steve Castillo of the APD Tuesday night for his heroic efforts that saved a young boy from choking. 

Officer Castillo was presented with a Life Saving Medal with Citation for Exemplary Service by Arcadia Police Chief Robert Sanderson.

"When a person is not breathing, seconds can be the difference between life and death," Arcadia Police Chief Robert Sanderson said in presenting Castillo with the award. "Officer Castillo acted quickly, decisively and in accordance with his training, taking necessary steps to clear the child's obstructed airway and allow respiration to begin."

On Dec. 26, 2010, Officer Castillo and Reserve Officer Mario Castro were first on the scene to a home in the 1000 block of Loma Lisa Lane on a medical assist call of a 6-year old child choking on a piece of meat.

As the child’s panicked family looked on, Officer Castillo checked the boy’s vital signs and saw a pulse. The young man was not breathing, though, and his body was turning blue, so Castillo had to act quickly. He administered several back blows in an attempt to dislodge the object from the boy’s airway, then turned the child over and performed mouth sweeps to clear the obstruction.

Castillo’s efforts led to a portion of the object being cleared and the boy regaining his breath. Moments later, paramedics arrived and began treating the boy, using forceps to fully clear the object from the boy’s throat. The boy made a full recovery.

"There's nothing the chief or I could give you that would mean more than that [young boy] being alive because of your efforts," said as he presented Castillo with a certificate from the city.

"There's a family who's whole today because of your efforts," Amundson said.