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WILTON, Conn. The Diocese of Bridgeport will honor Wilton Police Officer Joseph Calorossi at its upcoming Blue Mass for helping to resuscitate a motorist who suffered a debilitating asthma attack while driving on Interstate 91 last fall.
Calorossi was off duty and traveling as a passenger in a vehicle heading into Hartford last Nov. 27, when he observed the operator of a vehicle behind him driving erratically and honking the horn.
The motorist, later identified as Courtney Roberts of Wethersfield, pulled alongside Calorossi and, after rolling down the car's window and yelling for help, got the officer's vehicle to stop.
Roberts said he was having an asthma attack and experiencing breathing trouble but did not have an inhaler with him. Roberts lost consciousness. Calorossi and a nurse who stopped to help stabilized Roberts and began chest compressions and rescue breaths. By the time State Police and an ambulance arrived, Roberts had a pulse and was breathing on his own. Medical personnel transported Roberts to Hartford Hospital.
At that point, Calorossi located a cell phone in Roberts' vehicle and called one of the contacts to let them know what had happened.
"It is the actions such as these that are an example of the professional and caring nature of the officers of this department," Chief Michael Lombardo said in December.
Calorossi will receive the 2011 Diocese of Bridgeport Blue Mass Special Award for Police Officer at a ceremony on Sept. 11 at St. Augustine's Cathedral, 359 Washington Ave., Bridgeport.
Do you know a Wilton public servant who goes above and beyond the call of duty?
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