Caribou Police Officer Awarded for Life Saving Efforts

A Caribou Police Reserve Officer is credited with saving someone's life.

Officer Erick Bechtel, a Reserve Officer with the Caribou P.D. for four years, was awarded the Life Saving Award by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association on Friday, February 8, for his efforts in saving a woman’s life.

Back in May of 2018, a man walked into Caribou P.D. saying that a female was underwater in the Caribou Stream just below the police department and that she was not responding to his voice. Caribou Fire and Ambulance were dispatched but Officer Bechtel was first on scene.

Officer Bechtel jumped into the cold water with all of his gear on and pulled the woman from the water, not giving a thought to the water's temperature or the danger to himself. The woman then was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

Caribou Police Chief Michael Gahagan states that Officer Bechtel "saved this woman’s life even though we realize that it is part of the job. He went above and beyond the call and duty. His service to the citizens of Caribou is appreciated."