A Tulare County sheriff’s deputy has been recognized for lifesaving actions after responding to a late-night medical emergency in August that left a man pulseless and unresponsive.

Deputy Sabin Henderson and a partner were responding to a burglary call when a second call came in around 1 a.m. on Aug. 10: A family member reported that a loved one was not breathing and believed he might be dead. The deputies raced across town to the home in Pixley.

“When we got there, family members were outside screaming for help,” Henderson said. “As soon as I walked in, there was an air mattress in the living room and the man was laying on it. We got him on the floor, assessed that he had no pulse and wasn’t breathing, and immediately started CPR.”

Henderson, trained as an EMT before joining the sheriff’s office, said the effort was automatic.

“We have a job to do — the goal is to make sure people leave alive,” he said. “There’s no time to think, you just have to act.”

The deputies began chest compressions and provided ventilation until paramedics arrived. Henderson assisted in applying electrodes so the paramedics could monitor the man’s heart and administer shocks and epinephrine. After several tense minutes, paramedics detected a pulse and transported the man to a hospital, where he eventually recovered from a coma.

Henderson said he didn’t learn the patient survived until the department recognized him with an employee of the month award for saving the man’s life. “I’ve done CPR on a lot of people. I’ve never had anyone live,” he said. “It was incredible to hear he made it.”

Deputy Henderson Emphasizes the Unseen Work of First Responders

The deputy, who started as an EMT in 2022 and joined the sheriff’s office in 2024, emphasized that his recent award also reflects the unseen work first responders do daily. “There’s a lot of things nobody knows about that we do,” Henderson said. “We deal with trauma, violence, and death. People should continue to support law enforcement, because there’s a lot we carry home with us.”

To cope with the stresses of the job, Henderson leans on family, exercise, music, and the simple comforts at home. “You’ve got to take the badge off and go home,” he said. “Life is gradual. Don’t waste a second on things that don’t matter.”

Henderson’s quick thinking and steady response highlight the crucial role deputies and first responders play, often beyond what the public sees, saving lives one call at a time.

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