AEDs donated to Mt. Pleasant Police Department

The Mount Pleasant Police Department received two new AED’s in memory of Loree King. They were donated by Loree’s husband Wayne King, daughter Leanne King Salmeron and two grandsons, Cory Stoikovic and Adrian Salmeron.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a medical device designed to analyze the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to victims of ventricular fibrillation to restore the heart rhythm to normal. Ventricular fibrillation is the uncoordinated heart rhythm most often responsible for sudden cardiac arrest.

“I had been thinking about what type of a memorial that I wanted to do for my late wife, Loree,” said King. “And I stopped by the police department to ask them if they needed any new body cameras or anything like that. They told me that they were getting a new police car, and that they needed a defibrillator in the new car.”

After the conversation with the police department, King consulted with his daughter in California about the request. The family thought that the donation would be an excellent gift to the police department in the memory of Loree.

“Several years ago, Loree was home alone and had an incident where they had to use a defibrillator on her,” said King. “The use of the machine at our home saved her life.”

King was pleased that he could make a donation of the AED units to the police force. He wanted to make a difference in the memory of his late wife to whom he was married to for 65 years.

“We had a new police car, and some older AED units,” said Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Lyle Murray. “We were able to get two units and put them into the two newer cars. We have had several occasions where we have had to use an AED on someone. They are a much needed device in the car, and they have helped to save lives. We are grateful for the donation.”

Contact Michelle Hillestad at michelle.hillestad@southeastiowaunion.com