Officers credited with saving a life in Westport

Posted 1/2/25

Two environmental police officers were recognized last week for saving the life of a suicidal person in Westport last summer.

Lt. Robert Akin and Environmental Police Officer Kyle Gorham of the …

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Officers credited with saving a life in Westport

Posted

Two environmental police officers were recognized last week for saving the life of a suicidal person in Westport last summer.

Lt. Robert Akin and Environmental Police Officer Kyle Gorham of the Massachusetts Environmental Police were among a contingent of state troopers and Westport fire fighters and police who located the individual, who had threatened to commit suicide and was armed with a weapon, last August.

The officers were able to locate the person in a remote, swampy area, where the individual was in need of medical attention. Lt. Akin and others safely disarmed the individual and rendered medical aid, and assisted in extricating the person from the woods. The actions of Lt. Akin and Officer Gorham resulted in a life being saved and reflect outstanding service to the public, Mass DEP officials wrote. For their efforts, Akin and Gorham were awarded a Massachusetts State Police Division Commander Commendation.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide or in emotional distress, call or text 988, the state's suicide and crisis lifeline (Veterans, press1; Spanish, press 2).

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.