LOCKPORT – Two Lockport police officers overcame unexpected challenges and saved one person’s life and prevented potentially dangerous actions of another.

Lockport Police Officer Patrick Ellanson and auxiliary officer Robert Tague were recognized March 19 by city police officials for their actions in the past year. Ellanson saved the life of a man who appeared to be overdosing on a drug while Tague helped chase down a man who was found to have a loaded gun on him.

Ellanson said while he appreciated the recognition for his efforts, he was happy he managed to save a life. It was something he felt he could look back on and think he made a difference in the community.

“We do things like this every day and people a lot of the times don’t hear about it,” Ellanson said.

In September, Ellanson got a call on a male in his 30s who was possibly overdosing on a drug. He was the first person on the scene and when he was inside, he noticed the person was unconscious. The person’s skin from his chest up to his head was purple, he said.

“I know this sounds kind of cliched, but the training they had us do kicked in and I started to do CPR on him,” he said.

The man’s breathing restarted and Ellanson recalled it was labored. The color returned to his skin and at that time the local fire department arrived. The man was transported to the hospital and Ellanson called to make sure he was OK.

Ellanson has been with the department for about 5½ years and knew he always wanted to be in law enforcement. It’s a job he loves and he never dreads going to work.

“You have to want to do this job,” he said. “Sometimes you don’t see the best of things in the world and sometimes you do.”

Tague was off-duty when he found himself having to chase down a person who tried to evade police. Tague works as an auxiliary officer, which is a volunteer who provides assistance to officers.

In February, Tague saw a car in a ditch. He notified the police and checked to make sure the driver was fine. After the police met with the driver, he fled. Tague ended up chasing the driver down with other officers in pursuit and struggled to get him down on the ground.

After searching the man, police officers found he had a loaded handgun.

Tague said he enjoys being an auxiliary officer and he respects the work of other officers in the department.

“It takes a special person to do this day in and day out, and the city of Lockport has a lot of professionals that do this,” he said.