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SURVIVOR OF SUDDEN DEATH EPISODE

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Former Assistant Police Chief Charles Reeves, left, thanks his
lifesaver, HPD officer Brian Taniguchi, whom he formally met for
the first time yesterday at the American Heart Association of
Hawaii 2000 Awards Program at the Oahu Country Club.
Reeves had a heart attack at Ala Moana Beach on April 30.
Taniguchi was the first to respond and brought Reeves
back from cardiac arrest with a defibrillator.

‘Guy with 9 lives’
thanks officer
who saved him

'You use it that one time and
you bring somebody back and
it is worth it,' Taniguchi said
of the defibrillator

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

RETIRED Assistant Police Chief Charles Reeves is living proof that portable heart defibrillators work.

Reeves, brought back from a potentially fatal cardiac arrest April 30 at Ala Moana Park, last night thanked the police officer who saved his life.

Reeves, now head of Ilikai Hotel security, embraced officer Brian Taniguchi at the American Heart Association of Hawaii's annual meeting at the Oahu Country Club.

"I tell you now, you use it that one time and you bring somebody back, and it is worth it," Taniguchi said, noting that before he helped save Reeves' life, he had responded to several false alarms with the defibrillator.

Taniguchi arrived at the park with the automated external defibrillator shortly after a 911 call. He quickly applied electrode pads and administered the electric shock to Reeves that restored a normal heart rhythm and saved his life.

Taniguchi arrived on scene before paramedics, who also carry the defibrillators. "The cops were there first, and they had the equipment," Reeves said.

Honolulu Police Department started using defibrillators last fall, and the first person police used it on was Police Chief Lee Donohue. Donohue survived a cardiac arrest from an irregular heart beat last Sept. 18.

Taniguchi has been with HPD a little more than 13 years. He said joining the defibrillator program was one of his best moves.

Reeves also thanked another officer who was first to arrive, a private security officer who helped, the Fire Department, a lifeguard and an unidentified female jogger who took his pulse and helped the first arriving officer.

"I'm happy to be here as one of the survivors of a sudden death episode," Reeves said.

Relatives, friends and co-workers prayed for him, Reeves said. "Why am I here? Why did God give me all this chance? I think he wants me to be a messenger," he said. "I'm 61 years of age and I'm proud of it."

He also praised police Sgt. Mike Ward. "He's the one who supervises the (defibrillator) program at HPD."

Reeves and Taniguchi had never formally met until last night.

When Taniguchi joined him on the podium, Reeves presented him with a lei and a hug.

They shook hands to a round of applause. "Thanks for everything," Taniguchi said modestly. He thanked Ward. "He got me into this program," Taniguchi said.

Ward said Hawaii is organized in lifesaving. "We're the first state in the nation where the police, fire and ambulance are all equipped with defibrillators," he said.

Reeves noted: "They called me a guy with nine lives."