Patrolman Officer Robert Ballas named Crown Point Employee of the Year

CROWN POINT | Patrolman Robert Ballas has been named Crown Point's Employee of the Year.

Fellow city employees voted to bestow the honor on Ballas, a three-year veteran assigned to the Patrol Division, who saved two lives in 2011.

On Feb. 4, Ballas responded to a 911 call from the Aurelio's Pizza parking lot on north Main Street concerning a choking one-year-old boy who was not breathing. Ballas, who found the child turning blue due to an obstructed airway, performed the Heimlich maneuver freeing the boy's airway and restoring his breathing. The child made a full recovery.

At a Crown Point Fraternal Order of Police meeting March 24, Sgt. James Poling started choking when a piece of chicken lodged in his throat. Ballas performed the Heimlich maneuver on Poling, dislodging the chicken bone and allowing his superior officer to breath. Poling was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released. Poling said he credits Ballas with saving his life.

Crown Point Police Chief Pete Land said he is proud of Ballas and his lifesaving actions.

"Fortunately, it is pretty rare for any officer in the course of his duty to perform the Heimlich maneuver or any lifesaving effort," Land said. "To have one officer be in that situation twice in one year successfully, not only of a fellow officer but of an infant, is pretty remarkable. How he responded in each situation in a professional manner and how he relied on his training and ultimately his actions led to a successful outcome and is a credit to Bob as a police officer."

Ballas said he is humbled by the award and is also grateful for the wonderful support and response time by the Crown Point Fire Department.

"I am very happy that everything turned out the way it did; the training I have received came into play," Ballas said. "The training we receive does pay off when you keep up with it."

Ballas said he appreciates the fire department, with their advanced training, skills and equipment, arriving on the scene in less than one minute after him

"They are right there in case anything else is going on that is not obvious; sometimes things are not going to come out no mater what you do," Ballas said. "They can take over."