ROCKLAND — Rockland Police Officer Addison Cox was recently recognized by Chief Bruce Boucher with the department’s Meritorious Award for saving a man’s life, who was injured during an assault in January.

Boucher shared the letter he wrote to Cox, commending him for his professional standards and commitment to the citizens of Rockland, in a news release March 5.

Dear Officer Cox,

On January 31, you were working a patrol shift for the Rockland Police Department. At approximately 7:51 p.m., you and Officer Rolerson were dispatched to a report of a man bleeding in the middle of Pacific St. Upon your arrival at the scene you made contact with an individual who had been involved in an assault and was bleeding severely from his right arm.

You immediately assessed the wound and began to render aid. While maintaining a very calm demeanor, you relayed to dispatch that Rockland EMS needed to expedite their response to the scene. You realized that the bleeding was uncontrollable and needed to be stopped immediately.

While maintaining the upmost calm, you removed your tourniquet from your personal trauma kit and applied it to the victim, just above his right elbow. During the application of the tourniquet, you continually talked with the victim and coached him through the process. As a result of the proper application of the tourniquet you were able to substantially reduce the bleeding.

Rockland EMS arrived on scene and transported the victim to Penobscot Bay Medical Center, from there; the victim was flown via Lifeflight helicopter to Maine Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery to repair a severed artery in his right arm.

It was later learned that both Rockland EMS personnel as well as medical staff at Penobscot Bay Medical Center said that if it were not for your quick thinking to apply a tourniquet and reduce the loss of blood the victim was experiencing he could have died. These medical professionals credited your actions with saving this person's life.

Your actions during this incident embody the professional standards and commitment to the citizens of Rockland that the Rockland Police Department strives to achieve every day. Not only did your actions and demeanor set an outstanding example for all officers to follow; they also rose to the standards of receiving the Rockland Police Department's Meritorious Service Award.