Superhero patrolman presented with Lifesaving Award
Patrolman Ryan Porter with Richard Schreiber after the award presentation. Porter used CPR to save Schreiber’s life last year.
A special presentation was made to Ryan Porter, Dover patrolman, at the Jan. 6 Dover Council meeting for his actions in saving a life in 2024.
Kimberly Kroh, executive director of the Heartland, Stark and Muskingum Lakes American Red Cross, and Erica Van Pelt, a Dover resident who serves as the operations manager of the Northern Ohio Region of the Red Cross, presented a Lifesaving Award for Extraordinary Personal Action to Porter.
Porter has served with the Dover Police Department for 13 years. He was nominated for the award by Bob Everett, Dover’s safety director.
Kroh said emergencies can happen at any time or place.
“It only takes one hero to save the day, and there is someone in this room who saved the day by saving a life,” Kroh said.
On Aug. 19, 2024, Porter responded to a Dover home for a medical emergency. He found an unresponsive Richard Schreiber lying on the floor. Schreiber was not breathing and did not have a pulse.
Porter immediately began CPR and continued until the Dover Fire Department arrived on the scene.
“He performed three to four rounds of CPR before the Dover Fire Department arrived on the scene. Patrolman Porter continued CPR while the paramedics attached the AED to the patient. The first shock was unsuccessful, so patrolman Porter continued CPR, and this is a long time to perform CPR for those of you who have never done it. It’s very exhausting,” Kroh said.
The second shock restarted Schreiber’s heart, and he was taken to the hospital. It was the first time Porter had the opportunity to use his CPR training.
“Ryan Porter, you exemplify the mission of the American Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies, and we commend you and your willingness to help others in need,” Kroh said.
There is no question about it for Schreiber, who had suffered a heart attack, that Porter is a superhero.
“I’m just so proud of Ryan and appreciative of him. Without him I would not have had Christmas with my grandkids and both their birthdays,” Schreiber said.
Schreiber attended the ceremony to congratulate Porter, and in a heartwarming moment, the two shared a hug afterward. The room also was filled with well-wishers who gave Porter a standing ovation.
In legislation, council approved Ordinance 51-24 to increase penalties for drivers for failing to obey a school crossing guard. Fines could be as much as $500 and imprisonment up to six months for multiple infractions.
In his mayor’s report, Shane Gunnoe reported city offices are closed Jan. 9 for the National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter.
A contract has been awarded to Gor-Con Construction of Dover in the amount of $374,707 for the construction of a new pump house #4 at the power plant.
Gunnoe also extended best wishes to two new businesses downtown — Dola Jean’s Pizza and Final Finish — which will open later this month. Final Finish will produce custom window manufacturing equipment.
“The city planning commission has received two requests for signage permits from Circle K for a new store that is in the planning process at the intersection of state Route 39 and state Route 516, directly in front of the Quality Inn,” Gunnoe said. “The commission members will meet next Tuesday at 10 a.m. to consider the request.”
Fundraising toward the new pickleball courts continues. Recent contributions have brought the total amount raised to $69,000.
“We hope to hear back on our separate ODNR grant funding request this spring and look forward to this project hopefully becoming a reality in 2025,” Gunnoe said.
The city will join the Mayor’s Partnership for Progress organization. The association of cities and villages across Eastern and Southern Ohio was formed about 30 years ago.
“By joining the MPP, the City of Dover will now have additional access to technical assistance resources and grant writing support from the full-time staff employed by the organization,” Gunnoe said.
At the end of the meeting, council went into executive session for discussion of pending litigation and, separately, for discussion regarding public infrastructure improvements or the extension of utility services that are directly related to an economic development project. No action was taken.
Due to the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the next Dover Council meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 21 in council chambers, 121 E. Second St., Dover. All meetings are open to the public.