Police Expand Defibrillator Program to Each Precinct

NEW YORK — The city police department has given defibrillators to each precinct, transit district and public service area in order to help save the lives of people who have heart attacks, Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly announced Monday.

Officers have been able to restart the hearts of 16 people, 4 of whom survived, since the department began using the defibrillator equipment as a pilot program in 1997.

“We have not only provided this essential equipment to every precinct, we have also established a complete training program to ensure that our officers are fully prepared to use it during a medical emergency,” Kelly said.

An automated external defibrillator is a device used to restart the heart by applying an electrical shock to it.

Other police units including the Harbor Patrol, Highway, Aviation, and Emergency Service units were also given the equipment.