Lake in the Hills Police Officer James Recchia, Detective John Arient and Officer Christina Busby (left to right) were given the Officer of the Year award Friday at the McHenry County Chiefs of Police Association’s annual ceremony. | Provided Photo

Three police officers were nominated for an award for saving the life of a 3-year-old boy by performing CPR on him after he was found drowning in a pond in Lake in the Hills.

The McHenry County Chiefs of Police Association held their annual Officer of the Year ceremony last Friday.

Lake in the Hills Police Officer James Recchia, Detective John Arient and Officer Christina Busby were all nominated for the Officer of the Year award during Friday’s ceremony.

“It is vital as a law enforcement community to recognize officers that diligently show up to work every day and night to provide services with dedication, compassion and integrity. We are proud to share our own Officer Recchia, Officer Busby, and Detective Arient were nominated for this prestigious award,” the Lake in the Hills Police Department said.

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“For many parents, one of their worst fears is realized when their child goes missing. Without hesitation people will come together, and such was the day on July 23, 2021 when a three-year-old boy was reported missing in the Village of Lake in the Hills,” the department said in a statement.

The 3-year-old was found by a group of golfers unconscious in a pond behind a home in the 1000 block of Mason Lane in Lake in the Hills that afternoon.

The boy was pulled to shore and they started CPR on him. “That very moment changed the life of the little boy and his family forever,” the department said.

Officer James Recchia was the first officer on the scene. He took over CPR and provided critical information to other officers, further alerting medical personnel that the boy was not conscious and not breathing, officials said.

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Officer Christina Busby and Detective John Arient arrived next and continued to provide CPR.

They were able to gain a pulse and transfer him to the ambulance. The boy survived and has recovered.

Paramedics transported the child to Northwestern Hospital Huntley in critical condition.

A LifeNet medical helicopter landed at the hospital and transferred the child to Ann and Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

“Many people came together to save the life of this precious child. Thankfully, the little boy is alive and well. He heroically fought very hard to be with us today,” the police department said.

“It takes exceptional skill and composure to flawlessly perform the tasks required during a critical incident. This incident didn’t end as the ambulance drove away, but required that each officer move into their next role with the highest degree of professionalism and compassion,” the department said.

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