Members of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribal Council, Snoqualmie Tribal Police Chief Gene Fenton and staff joined King County Sheriff John Urquhart and King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert at the Snoqualmie Casino on Friday, May 19 to mark the donation of 150 AEDs to the Sheriff’s Department, enough to equip all remaining King County Sheriff patrol cars that lacked them. The tribe also donated 10 AEDs to the Snoqualmie Police Department, enough to equip all of the department’s patrol cars, on May 23.

The donations were spurred by an event earlier this year; King County deputies equipped with an AED were able to save the life of a fellow officer who suffered a heart attack while struggling with a DUI suspect. At that time, Sheriff Urquhart expressed a desire to see all King County Sheriff patrol cars equipped with the life-saving devices.

Tribal councilmember Richard Zambrano worked with the council and Chief Fenton to have the tribe purchase enough AEDs to meet the shortfall in the Tribe’s partner police department, as well as the Snoqualmie department.

“We have a strong government-to-government relationship with King County and the Sheriff’s Department,” said Fenton. “These are important life-saving tools for officers to have available on the street. By reaching out to assist King County we help everyone in the broader community in which we live.”

The Tribe provided over $180,000 in funding to order the AEDs.

“The Snoqualmie Tribe’s generous donation of AEDs will undoubtedly save lives,” said Sheriff Urquhart. “Our patrol deputies are often in the position to respond quickly to life threatening emergencies where an AED can make a difference. Having each of our patrol cars equipped is bound to make a difference to our community.”

“The Snoqualmie Tribal Council has just possibly saved a life by their donation of 10 AEDs to our police department,” said Snoqualmie Police Chief Perry Phipps. “These AEDs will immediately be placed in the 10 remaining vehicles that currently do not have one to be used if needed. Personally, I have witnessed the use of an AED that saved not only a citizen’s life, but also a police officer’s life — I know the value of having immediate access to one.”

“Having AEDs readily available and moving around my district in our sheriff patrol cars is one more tool for protecting people’s lives,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert. “This is a great aspect of community policing, another example of partnering with our fire and paramedic partners. Thank you to the Snoqualmie tribe for your generosity and deep care for our communities.”