LABELLE -- In the morning hours of May 1, 2022, Cpl. Veronica Lopez responded to a call of a 10-month-old child that had possibly drowned in a bathtub in a home in western Hendry County. Upon Cpl. Lopez’s arrival, she was met by the mother who was holding the unresponsive child. Based on her training, Cpl. Lopez immediately began CPR on the infant.

Due to her quick action, the infant began to respond and started breathing.

Lopez’s actions attributed to the saving of the infants life. With this display of conspicuous initiative, capability and quick response, Cpl. Lopez has earned the respect and admiration for herself and the agency.

On  Aug. 24, 2022, Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden presented Cpl.  Lopez with the Life Saving Award for Outstanding Law Enforcement Performance, in the Saving of a Human Life. Under true emergency circumstances, she acted to prevent the loss of life either by exercising appropriate first aid procedures or by direct intervention. The Life Saving Award is awarded to an employee for competent and expedient action that is directly accountable for sustaining or saving a human life.