Last week, Opelika Police Major John Hester had the honor of presenting Officer Patrick Grimes with a Life Saver Award for his exceptional bravery and quick thinking during a critical incident on August 30, 2025.
When Officer Grimes arrived as the first responder to a shooting near Dale Avenue and Pike Street, he found two victims in critical condition. Without hesitation, he relied on his training and composure to triage the scene.
Officer Grimes applied tourniquets to one victim suffering from severe leg wounds and directed a bystander to assist with pressure. Moving swiftly to the second victim, he applied a chest seal to a neck wound to control bleeding.
His medical care was so effective that when EMS arrived, they determined his stabilization efforts negated the need for a LifeSaver Helicopter transport. Thanks to his rapid intervention, two citizens survived that day.
