VAN BUREN COUNTY - Each week, Grand Rapids Harley Davidson and West Michigan’s Most Wanted recognize a member of law enforcement who’s gone above and beyond the call of duty to help the community they serve in.
Last week, Deputy Brian Matthews with the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office was recognized with a live saving award in Washington, D.C., part of National Law Enforcement Week.
Matthews, a nine-year veteran of the department, was recognized for the efforts he made to save another law enforcement officer aboard a flight from Arizona to West Michigan last year.
Deputy Matthews was able to treat an officer from Muskegon who was suffering from a stroke, using make-shift medical equipment to stabilize the patient until the pilot could make an emergency landing in Iowa.
Since the emergency, the Muskegon officer has made a recovery.
Both officers were returning to West Michigan from Arizona after attending a drug recognition school.
Matthews is one of only a few officers in the state considered a drug recognition expert. Matthews has testified in several cases, some of which have helped establish case-law when it comes to the prosecution of 'drugged driving' in Michigan.
Congratulations to Deputy Matthews on his nomination for the week of May 16.
