On Jan. 6, emergency services in Merriam got a report of a man having a heart attack.

Police Officer Kristin Hannabass was on duty, and got the call. She rushed to the scene to find Terry Spruk, a 59-year-old Merriam resident, in cardiac arrest and unconscious.

Within seconds of arriving, Hannabass set about readying the Automated External Defibrillator stored in her police car. It administered an electric shock to Spruk, which set his heart pumping again. When paramedics arrived, they rushed him to Shawnee Mission Medical Center, where he received more life-saving shocks in the emergency room. After a week in the hospital, he was able to return home and get back to normal life. And he knows he has Hannabass to thank.

Last week, Spruk and his wife Linda were on hand at the Merriam city council meeting to acknowledge Hannabass’s quick work and to thank her. Hannabass, who has been with the department for three years, received a Lifesaving Award from Police Chief Michael Daniels.