Thursday, September 20th, 2007
Celina assistant police chief in serious condition after suffering heart attacks
By Shelley Grieshop
Calvin Freeman, assistant police chief of the Celina Police Department, remained in serious condition this morning after suffering two heart attacks Wednesday afternoon, according to local officials.
Freeman, a 25-year veteran of the local department, reportedly was feeling ill while doing yard work at home on his day off and drove himself to the Celina fire department/squad building to get checked out. It was there he reportedly suffered his first cardiac arrest, collapsing in front of paramedics. He was rushed to Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys, where he suffered a second heart attack while in the emergency room of the local hospital, Slusser said.
"I believe they used AEDs (automated external defibrillators) on him at the fire department and the hospital," Slusser said.
A LifeFlight helicopter transported Freeman to St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima, where he remained this morning, Slusser said. He is scheduled for open heart surgery on Friday at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, he added.
Freeman is a familiar figure in the community - in particular to Celina area students. Through a special grant awarded the police department several years ago, the 51-year-old spent three years as a school resource officer at Celina City Schools. Freeman also has been involved in the school's soccer program and currently is the varsity coach for the girls' high school team.
Slusser spoke to Freeman by phone this morning and he "sounded much better than he did yesterday," he said.
"Our department is doing everything we can to support him and his family, to help them get through this," Slusser said.
