Michael Nesbitt, Recipient of EPD Purple Heart Award
From the Edgewater Police Department:
As Chief of Police for the Edgewater Police Department it is with great honor that I award Michael Nesbitt with the Edgewater Police Department’s Purple Heart Award.
At about 2:00 a.m. on June 23, 2017, Edgewater Police Officers were pursuing a man, Connor Michael Dougherty (012291), on a motorized scooter for suspicion of DUI. Dougherty wrecked the Scooter in the parking lot of Jefferson High School and fought with the officers when they attempted to put him into custody.
During the fight, Edgewater Corporal Michael Nesbitt fell and landed on a metal peg that protruded from the scooter and sustained serious respiratory injuries. Both Corporal Nesbitt and Dougherty were transported to the hospital for treatment. Dougherty was released from the hospital and was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on multiple charges to include second-degree assault of a peace officer.
Corporal Nesbitt sustained respiratory and cardiac arrest suffered from the fall and strain during the fight. During the first few hours of Mike’s care, five Lutheran Hospital Doctor’s advised this writer that Mike was “most likely not going to make it” due to his oxygen levels being in life threatening levels for several hours. At that time, I completed the Press Release and obituary for Mike’s death that was scheduled to be released later that afternoon. Miraculously, Mike lived through the next several hours and his condition improved dramatically to the point that he was moved to ICU on life support.
Once again, the doctors and staff in ICU indicated that Mike would hopefully improve to the point of moving onto a long-term care facility, although the first 24 – 48 hours were critically important. Mike’s family, friends, and the services of the Jefferson County Wide Security Team provided 24 hour care and oversight of Mike while he was hospitalized. Miraculously again, Mike’s condition improved dramatically to the point where he was talking with a few days. The doctors indicated that collectively they had never seen such improvement with a patient that had been in such long-term depleted oxygen levels and Mike continued to beat all odds.
Mike was able to leave the hospital a few weeks later, and returned home to an ecstatic wife and children. Mike immediately noticed that his “Dress Blues” were hanging from the door although his service medals were incorrectly attached to his uniform. When he asked his wife, Cortni why his uniform was hanging up she broke down and explained that it was because she had been readying his uniform for the coroner so that he could have been buried in his “Dress Blues”.
As Chief of Police for the Edgewater Police Department it is with great honor that I award Michael Nesbitt with the Edgewater Police Department’s Purple Heart Award.
Chief John Mackey – 11/10/2020
The Purple Heart Medal may be awarded to members who suffer serious bodily injury in the line of duty, or bodily injury by means of a deadly weapon while effecting an arrest or protecting others.
Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.
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