Auburn Police Officer Cook has been awarded the department’s Medal of Life-Saving Recognition for his swift and decisive actions in saving the life of a gunshot victim in September 2024.

According to a commendation letter signed by Chief of Police Mark Caillier (see below), Officer Cook was the first on scene after responding to a report of an illegal discharge call near 3000 M Street SE at 1:56 a.m. on Sept. 8, 2024. He arrived within 90 seconds of being dispatched.

Cook located an adult male on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds and several family members nearby. He applied chest seals to control bleeding and prevent life-threatening complications while maintaining verbal and psychological support for the victim until medics arrived.

“Your demeanor had a stabilizing effect on the victim, as well as others on scene,” Chief Caillier wrote. “This likely contributed to the victim’s will to survive, which is often an underestimated component to saving a life.”

Cook communicated with arriving medics and helped coordinate the patient’s care before the man was transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he later recovered and was discharged. King County Medics told the department the victim likely would have died if not for Cook’s immediate actions.

“Without your quick response, ability to remain calm, and training, it is unlikely the patient would have survived,” the letter states. “You displayed great professionalism and competence during this incident.”

The department said Cook acted without expectation of recognition and that his actions only came to light after a detective reviewed the incident while preparing for trial in the related criminal case.

“This is just one example of the many acts of service our staff perform daily,” the department said in a statement.

Full Letter & Text of Recognition

“CITY OF AUBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT
“COURAGE • HONOR • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
“Auburn Police Department
“Medal of Life-Saving Recognition
“Officer Cook,
“On September 8th, 2024, at 0156 hours you were dispatched to a report of an illegal discharge call near 3000 M St SE. You responded to the area and were the first officer on scene. From the time the call was dispatched until you arrived on scene was approximately ninety seconds, an exceptional response time under emergent conditions.
“You were made aware of an adult male that had been shot. You contacted the male who was laying on the ground with several family members nearby. You completed a comprehensive sweep of the subject to check for injuries and discovered multiple gunshot wounds to the victim’s torso and back. You applied multiple chest seals to control bleeding and protect against secondary complications (i.e. tension pneumothorax, hemopneumothorax, etc.).
“In addition to providing effective medical treatments, you maintained continuous verbal engagement with the victim, keeping him conscious, alert, and psychologically supported until medical personnel arrived on scene. Your demeanor had a stabilizing effect on the victim, as well as others on scene. This likely contributed to the victim’s will to survive, which is often an underestimated component to saving a life.
“When medical personnel arrived, you communicated what treatments had been provided, and they began further medical treatment. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he survived and was eventually discharged post care. King County Medics communicated that the patient would have died if the care had not been provided in a timely manner.
“Without your quick response, ability to remain calm, and training, it is unlikely the patient would have survived. You displayed great professionalism and competence during this incident. Therefore, you are being awarded the Auburn Police Department Lifesaving Medal.
“Dated this 9th day of June 2025
“Mark Caillier, Chief of Police”