MARTA Police Officers Honored by American Red Cross
for Heroic Actions
Two ocers from the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit
Authority MARTA olice Department were recognized
by the American Red Cross on May for their heroic and
lifesaving acons.
The ocers received a Cercate of traordinary ersonal
Acon during a ceremony at the Red Cross of Georgia
headuarters. The ceremony coincided with World Red Cross and
Red Crescent Day, which recognizes the organizaon’s network
of volunteers and sta who work to alleviate human suering
and help save lives in nearly every country, according to shared
humanitarian principles.
MARTA olice cer Keith Soley and Corporal Michael
Woodward saved the lives of two patrons at MARTA’s Kensington
Staon on Tuesday, April 17, 201. At :4 a.m., Soley and
Woodward were alerted to a man who was in cardiac arrest. The
ocers acted uickly, using an Automated ternal Debrillator
AD and cardiopulmonary resuscitaon CR unl he regained
consciousness. The man was alert and speaking with ocers
when transported to the hospital, but suered another medical
event at the hospital and died.
Just over an hour later, the same ocers were called to a
medical emergency in the bus loop at Kensington Staon. Soley
and Woodward once again used the AD and CR to regain the
heartbeat of a man who had gone into cardiac arrest. This me,
the man survived.
To be recognized by the American Red Cross is an incredible
honor, said MARTA olice Chief Wanda . Dunham. cer
16 | June 2019 | Real Hero Report
Soley and Corporal Woodward acted heroically and were able
to save a life thanks to their rapid response, quick thinking,
training and commitment to duty. They are both humbled by this
recognion.The Cercate of traordinary ersonal Acon is given to
individuals such as cers Soley and Woodward, who step up
in an emergency situaon and help save or sustain a life, said
Terri Badour, ecuve Director of Metro Atlanta’s Red Cross.
We commend them for their willingness to help others in
distress and are parcularly proud to recognize them on a day
that’s so meaningful to Red Cross humanitarians worldwide.
MARTA placed ADs in all rail staons, MARTA facilies and
police vehicles in 2009. The MARTA olice Department credits
the use of ADs with successfully saving four lives in the last
three years.