PHOTOS: Greenwich Police Sergeant Jason Lyman Recognized for Saving a Civilian’s Life While Off Duty

On Tuesday the Greenwich Silver Shield Association organized a ceremony on the steps of Greenwich Town Hall to honor Greenwich Police Sergeant Jason Lyman for exceptional dedication and service to the citizens of Greenwich.

Again.

Lyman was recognized several years ago when he was a police officer for his efforts to keep a child safe despite being off duty and on his way home.

On Tuesday, Lyman, now a Sergeant with the Greenwich Police Dept, was recognized for responding to a call he heard on his radio despite being off duty and on his way home in the afternoon after a shift.

Lyman, who was sworn as a member of the Greenwich Police Dept on May 14, 2007, exactly 18 years earlier – said he was honored and humbled by the recognition.

He made a point to share credit with emergency dispatchers, paramedics, police officers, and fire department.

“The Greenwich Police Dept does a great job,” Lyman said. “The national average, if you have a heart attack or cardiac episode outside a hospital, you have a 10% chance of surviving. In the town of Greenwich, you have a 50%+ chance of survival.”

“There’s not a lot of times I talk to my wife and family about what happens at work, but this was one of them,” he added.

The entire Greenwich delegation turned out to recognize Sergeant Lyman, along with First Selectman Fred Camillo, who read a proclamation recognizing Lyman’s swift response to a life threatening medical emergency on Sunday, October 15, 2023, when every second mattered.

Camillo, who called Lyman a hero, named May 14, 2024 “Jason Lyman Day” in Greenwich.

State Senator Ryan Fazio said Sergeant Lyman’s example showed why every week should be police appreciation week.

“They’re willing to put their physical safety, their mental health and their personal lives on the line every day in order to protect us,” Fazio said.

“As we go about our daily lives, unless you’ve been affected by this, most of all yourself, it may not register until that day happens, life is precious,” Camillo said. “The good lord knows when our day is up, but we don’t, usually.”

State Rep Hector Arzeno presented Sergeant Lyman with a citation on behalf of the entire Greenwich delegation to Hartford.

“We were very touched to listen to Tony’s story,” Arzeno said. “Sergeant Lyman’s dedication to the citizens of Greenwich and professionalism are exemplary.  We the Greenwich delegation – Senator Fazio, Representative Meskers and Representative Khanna – proudly acknowledge Sergeant Lyman for his unwavering commitment to protect and serve the town of Greenwich.”

Tony Magliocco, who benefited from Sergeant Lyman’s off-duty response, said he was very grateful.

“I have to also acknowledge my brother in law who responded, who is a full time Stamford Firefighter,” Mr. Magliocco said.

Sergeant Lyman elaborated on the turn of events of that Sunday afternoon, October 15.

Lyman said he had learned of the request for emergency medical services after his afternoon shift ended.

He had worked overtime the previous Saturday and Sunday mornings, and it was over an hour after his shift ended, around 4:00pm, that he saw the call in the queue for a person needing emergency services.

“It was a frantic 911 call of a woman saying, ‘He’s dead. He’s dead,'” Lyman recalled. “If you don’t know, Riverside and Old Greenwich is a maze, and I knew we had a lot of young officers who might not know how to get there, so I was able to get there way before anyone else.”

Lyman recalled the moment he was doing chest compressions, when Mr. Magliocco’s brother-in-law, a Stamford Firefighter arrived second on scene, and Lyman instructed him to get the get a BVM, (bag-valve mask), and put him in charge of that.

Pete Schmitt, who is a Lieutenant with the Greenwich Police Dept, as well as president of the Silver Shield Association, presented Sergeant Lyman with an Exceptional Medical Service Award based upon his actions last October.

“It’s not too often we get to see somebody that we saved looking like he was ready to run a marathon. It’s a breath of fresh air,” Schmitt said. “We see a lot of things in our jobs that we’d like to unsee. This is one of those incredible moments we should bottle up and save forever.”