Donations Bring Life-Saving AEDs To OSP Troopers In Lane County (Photo) - 09/30/26
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (30 September 2026) – Thanks to a generous donation from the Oregon Community Credit Union Foundation and the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation, Oregon State Police patrol and Fish and Wildlife vehicles in Lane County now have an automated external defibrillator (AED). Thirty-nine AEDs have been deployed to troopers in the Springfield, Oakridge, and Florence patrol offices.
About 30 times every year, troopers throughout the state respond to incidents requiring CPR. In 2026, troopers have already performed CPR more than 20 times. Particularly in rural areas, if a trooper receives notification of a cardiac arrest, they can often respond in minutes and start CPR or deploy an AED while EMS is en route.
Having AEDs in the hands of law enforcement responders helps get critical care to patients quickly. The sooner an AED is deployed to help re‑establish a normal heart rhythm, the more likely the patient is to have a meaningful recovery. The AEDs have a QR code that EMS can scan to give hospital staff and emergency room doctors real-time access to the patient’s heart rhythm.
Central Region Captain Ryan Martin said, “I’ve been in law enforcement for nearly three decades, and AEDs weren’t available when I first became a police officer. Now, we have an opportunity for troopers in rural areas of the state to respond to medical calls, make a difference, and potentially save someone’s life.”
Earlier this summer, troopers responded to a medical call near John Day for an elderly man who was unresponsive and not breathing. Two troopers took turns giving chest compressions and rescue breaths while delivering six shocks from an AED before paramedics arrived. After paramedics delivered two more shocks, the patient began showing a pulse and started breathing. The patient was transported to a local hospital and survived.
OSP troopers are non-transport pre-hospital providers, with about 20 troopers certified as EMTs and a few as paramedics throughout the state. From pre-academy to annual training, troopers receive CPR and other first-aid training throughout their careers with OSP. As part of the EMS program, OSP has a medical director and maintains medical protocols.
Sr. Trooper Todd Larsen, OSP’s EMS Coordinator, said, “We’re grateful to the OCCU Foundation and PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation for this generous donation. About 40 to 50 patrol troopers a year perform CPR. Having an AED is a significant improvement when responding to cardiac incidents.”
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About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of nearly 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon.
