Top: Buffalo County Sheriff's Office, Bottom: Kearney Police Department, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Kearney Police Department Buffalo and County Sheriff’s Office presented Life-Saving Awards to four incredible individuals whose quick thinking and coordination helped save the life of a young man traveling through our area.
On June 4, 2025, a family from Utah pulled into a rest area off I-80 near Kearney when their son experienced a severe medical emergency. The parents knew to call 911 for emergency assistance. As panic set in, two calm voices on the other end of the 911 call, Communications
Officers Mariah Elliott and Katryna Thomas, guided the family through CPR instructions over the phone while dispatching Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and law enforcement to the scene.
Officer Joshua Stokey and BCSO Deputy Reno Hunt arrived minutes apart and immediately took over lifesaving measures, working together to perform CPR and use an AED until EMS arrived.
What made today’s ceremony even more meaningful was the mother and father and their son joined us live via Zoom during the award presentation to personally thank each of the four individuals who helped save his life. Hearing the mom express her gratitude, especially to the dispatchers she had never met, brought many in the room to tears. Their heartfelt appreciation was a powerful reminder of the impact our first responders have, even on those just passing through our community.
These moments remind us that true public safety is built on teamwork, across agencies, roles, and even jurisdictions. The daily collaboration between BCSO and KPD, made possible by our co-located operations, allowed for a seamless and rapid response that made a lifesaving
difference.
To BCSO Deputy Hunt, KPD Officer Stokey, Communications Officer Elliott, and Communications Officer Thomas, thank you for being exactly who this family needed in their most critical moment. Each of you working together truly saved a young man’s life.
Check out our web site at www.cityofkearney.org.