The Soldotna Police Department on Wednesday celebrated Officer David Bower for saving the life of a person he found unresponsive at Soldotna Creek Park.

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek presented Bower with a “Lifesaver Award” during Wednesday’s meeting of the Soldotna City Council. Meek called the award “one of the highest honors” an officer can receive.

Bower on Feb. 8 arrived at Soldotna Creek Park around 4:30 a.m. to find a person who had overdosed, was not breathing and did not have a pulse. With assistance from another person in the park, Bower performed CPR until medics arrived and was able to transport the person to the hospital. Meek said that, three hours later, that person was able to walk out of the hospital.

“I’d like to honor Officer Bower and his lifesaving skills that day,” Meek told attendees at Wednesday’s meeting, many of whom came to support Bower.

Wednesday’s city council meeting can be streamed on the city’s website at soldotna.org.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

Soldotna Police Chief Gene Meek, left, presents Officer David Bower with a Lifesaver Award during a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)