Times Record
First responders are trusted to make hard decisions in the blink of an eye. Those decisions are often the difference between life and death, but sometimes even the right decision ends in tragedy.
Fort Smith Police Department s Cpl. Austin Collins had to make such a decision on the morning of Dec. 4 when on patrol at Garrison Avenue and Third Street. He observed one man leaning over another laying down on the ground. The man standing left and returned several times. Collins decided to circle around and assess the situation.
Collins spoke to the man who stated it was his friend on the ground and he was not responding. After checking for vital signs, Collins discovered the man had a weak heartbeat and irregular breathing.