by Kathryn Sill, Public Relations Writer
Going above and beyond the call of duty in their career field sets people apart. And that’s exactly what Kettering police department (KPD) officer Jon McCoy did when he responded to what appeared to be a routine call from KPD dispatchers.
Instead, what McCoy believed to be a call about a lost dog turned into a potentially life-saving act.
McCoy, a 2011 graduate of Cedarville University, found the lost dog and, through its dog tags, was able to return the dog to its home. He could have easily left the dog in the backyard and called it a day, but when no one answered the door, McCoy felt something wasn’t quite right.
After checking the home’s exterior doors and windows, he noticed that several lights were on, the current day’s newspaper was still on the front porch and a partially eaten granola bar was sitting on a desk inside.
McCoy then called for backup and opened an exterior window. That’s when he heard the homeowner, a 60-year-old man, call out that he had fallen and was unable to get up.
The man had been on the floor for seven hours, out of reach of his phone, and unable to call for help. According to the National Council on Aging, falls are the leading cause of fatal or serious injuries among older adults, resulting in more than 21,000 deaths each year.
Thanks to McCoy’s quick thinking, persistence and compassion, the homeowner received the help he needed and avoided becoming another statistic.
“I am not at all surprised by this news of Jon’s actions,” said Robert Vaughn, J.D., assistant professor of criminal justice and one of McCoy’s former professors. “When Jon was here, he was a very sociable person who loved interacting with people. Those are the skills that make for a good police officer in a job that is service-oriented.”
During his time at Cedarville, McCoy worked for campus safety as a cadet officer as well as a part-time patrol officer after graduation.
“Working for campus safety at Cedarville laid the foundation for me to practice investigative skills and form community relationships, both of which are used now in my current career,” said McCoy, who also spent time as an officer with the Village of Cedarville and University of Dayton police departments.
Instead, what McCoy believed to be a call about a lost dog turned into a potentially life-saving act.
McCoy, a 2011 graduate of Cedarville University, found the lost dog and, through its dog tags, was able to return the dog to its home. He could have easily left the dog in the backyard and called it a day, but when no one answered the door, McCoy felt something wasn’t quite right.
After checking the home’s exterior doors and windows, he noticed that several lights were on, the current day’s newspaper was still on the front porch and a partially eaten granola bar was sitting on a desk inside.
McCoy then called for backup and opened an exterior window. That’s when he heard the homeowner, a 60-year-old man, call out that he had fallen and was unable to get up.
The man had been on the floor for seven hours, out of reach of his phone, and unable to call for help. According to the National Council on Aging, falls are the leading cause of fatal or serious injuries among older adults, resulting in more than 21,000 deaths each year.
Thanks to McCoy’s quick thinking, persistence and compassion, the homeowner received the help he needed and avoided becoming another statistic.
“I am not at all surprised by this news of Jon’s actions,” said Robert Vaughn, J.D., assistant professor of criminal justice and one of McCoy’s former professors. “When Jon was here, he was a very sociable person who loved interacting with people. Those are the skills that make for a good police officer in a job that is service-oriented.”
During his time at Cedarville, McCoy worked for campus safety as a cadet officer as well as a part-time patrol officer after graduation.
“Working for campus safety at Cedarville laid the foundation for me to practice investigative skills and form community relationships, both of which are used now in my current career,” said McCoy, who also spent time as an officer with the Village of Cedarville and University of Dayton police departments.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.