Town of Princeton Honors Emergency Responders Who Saved Woman’s Life

Pictured (l-r): Officers JoAnne Malta, Stephen Lattin, Michael Schubert and Marla Montague with Barbara Ritz, center.
Pictured (left-right): Officers JoAnne Malta, Stephen Lattin, Michael Schubert and Marla Montague with Barbara Ritz, center.

Eight first responders were recognized at the Princeton Council meeting Monday night for saving the life of a woman who had stopped breathing last month while dining at a local restaurant.

The Council honored Princeton Police officers JoAnne Malta, Marla Montague, Stephen Lattin, and Michael Schubert and Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad members Jay Padulchick, Henry Pannell, David Feiner and Roy Xiao with a proclamation.

The police officers successfully administered CPR and a life-saving electric shock to  Barbara Ritz, 67, of Trenton on April 5 at Mediterra.  The officers arrived on the scene that night and were led to a Ritz, who was sprawled on the floor of the restaurant. She was unresponsive, blue in the face, and did not have a pulse. Lattin and Schubert began CPR as Montague applied two shocks to Ritz and her pulse and breathing were restored. The Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad arrived on scene and took over care for Ritz, who was then taken to a hospital.

Ritz and her sister-in-law, Donna Ritz, were at the ceremony Monday night. Donna Ritz spoke and thanked emergency responders for saving the life of her sister-in-law of 45 years.

“We were out celebrating that night. If it weren’t for you and your training…It was like the presence of God walked into the restaurant,” Donna Ritz said. “You were so under control. You brought grace under fire with you. We were basket cases. We were probably in your way. It is because of you that we have had more celebrations with my sister-in-law — Easter, Mother’s Day and the rest of the celebrations of the year. We will always be grateful.”

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Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.

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