Father and son Jacksonville officers save life, receive community honor

Two officers with deep local ties were honored in early November after a dramatic lifesaving intervention at a downtown concert. South Jacksonville Police Chief Eric Hansell and Jacksonville Police Officer Ethan Hansell received Officers of the Year awards from the Jacksonville Citizens Police Academy after noticing a concertgoer in distress at Twisted Tree Music Hall, performing CPR, and helping keep the man alive until emergency medical services arrived.

The men were attending the concert with family when they observed a person who appeared unsteady through a window. Sitting just inside the building, the Hansells were among the few in a position to see the unfolding emergency. Ethan Hansell described the scene, saying, "We were really the only ones in a position to see him out of the window." He and his wife, followed by Eric and others, reached the man just before he collapsed and began lifesaving measures. The victim stopped breathing at least twice before regaining consciousness as medical personnel arrived. He was transported to a hospital and recovered.

The recognition by a citizens police academy underscores connections between residents and law enforcement institutions in Morgan County. The award citation emphasized the officers' commitment to saving lives, even while off duty, a point Eric Hansell made when reflecting on receiving the joint honor. "It really is an honor, because it was with my son," he said, adding that his son followed in his career while working across departments. "He went into the same profession as me and we work fairly close together, even though we aren't on the same department. We were able to perform life-saving tasks together, even though we were off duty."

Ethan Hansell, who joined the Jacksonville Police Department about a year and a half ago after serving with the Quincy Police Department, said the response drew on everyday training. "I was glad to be able to do that with my dad, because I knew he had a lot of experience and he's the perfect partner to have," he said. "We do this stuff on a normal day at work, but when you're not at work, you don't expect to do it." Eric Hansell brings long service in local policing, having served roughly 20 years with the Jacksonville Police Department before becoming South Jacksonville police chief in 2020. He noted his pride in his son's work, saying, "I'm proud of him for doing it," and described how inviting his children into community policing influenced their career choices.

For Morgan County residents the episode carries several practical implications. It highlights the value of CPR and first aid training among both public safety professionals and civilians, and it points to the benefit of cross jurisdictional cooperation when emergencies occur in public venues. The award from a citizens academy also reflects active civic engagement in recognizing community safety efforts and fostering accountability and transparency between residents and law enforcement.

Local officials and venue operators can use this incident to review emergency response plans, public access to lifesaving equipment, and outreach on bystander training to strengthen community resilience. The Hansells scholarship of field experience and the citizens academy award provide a tangible example of how training and community involvement combine to save lives.