Patrolman Lester J. Barden, Kentwood Police Department, Michigan

Patrolman Lester J. Barden

Kentwood Police Department, Michigan

End of Watch Wednesday, January 17, 1979

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Lester J. Barden

Patrolman Barden suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after responding to an emergency call at a restaurant. When he arrived at the scene of the call he encountered a man who was suffering a heart attack and he proceeded to work on the man for several minutes until medical units arrived. After returning to his vehicle he began to feel ill and, knowing he was suffering a heart attack, requested that he be taken to Blodgett Hospital. While being transported to the hospital he suffered a second heart attack and died.

Patrolman Barden was assigned to the E-Unit and was the police departments first licensed EMT. He was responsible for creating the departments E-Unit.

Patrolman Barden was survived by his wife and two children.

Bio

Age 40
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Heart attack

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Most Recent Reflection

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Trinette.... our families lived across from each other on Collins for many years. Your Dad was always an inspiration to me and one of the reasons I became a Firefighter/EMT for the City Kentwood (just retired after 25yrs of service). I thought of your father often while on the rescue squad thinking this was what your father had done many times before me. Your father would have been proud of me, always called me “rubber legs”. Every time I travel down Barden Ave, I remember your Dad, what a cool guy he was, his passing was very hard on our family as well! The stories of your dad and the memories are still with me to this day!! What a awesome person he was!

Tim O’Connor
Kentwood Fire Department

December 1, 2018