Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores police officer Gabe Trujilo has had a knack for being in the right place at the right time in his law enforcement career and in his previous post with the Montgomery Police Department.

“During his time in Montgomery, he was awarded three life-saving awards, two mayoral commendation letters, the medal of valor, the officer of the month award and was awarded and recognized as the 2023 officer of the year,” Police Chief Ed Delmore said.

Trujilo, a 2018 graduate from Santa Rosa Academy in Florida, decided to move back to the Gulf Coast in March of this year and started working for the Gulf Shores Police Department. About a month in he was presented with another life-saving situation to help out Joe McHugh. Delmore and Lt. Josh Gulledge made a presentation at the May 6 city council work session.

“On April 26, 2024, at approximately 7:40 p.m. officers responded to 1525 Sandpiper Lane for an assist fire call involving a male patient in possible cardiac arrest,” Gulledge said. “After initiating an emergency response, officer Gabe Trujilo was the first officer on scene. Upon arrival, officer Trujilo was escorted to the patient’s location by a bystander where he observed Mr. Joe McHugh lying on his back, blue in color and unresponsive. Officer Trujilo immediately initiated CPR by performing chest compressions at the efficient depth and timing. While performing CPR a large piece food and fluids were dislodged from Mr. McHugh’s throat.”

Gulf Shores Fire and Rescue then arrived to the scene and took over treatment. On the way to the hospital, McHugh was already talking on the phone to family members.

“No matter how hard I try, I will never be able to find the words or actions to adequately thank my friends, the EMTs and especially officer Trujilo for being there for me,” McHugh said in a letter to the police department. “Officer Trujilo, your expertise and poise under immense pressure is what I needed to get over the hump. Your swift and precise actions allowed me to be fully cognizant again during the ambulance ride to the hospital, speak to my family while en route and be released from the hospital less than 24 hours after the incident.”

McHugh closed his letter by saying: “Remember to chew your food.”

During the meeting, Delmore also announced the promotion of Officer Wil Phillips to sergeant.

During the work session, the council also discussed:

• Hiring Engineering Design Group for $19,430 for survey and platting services for city’s new justice center at the old Sacred Heart Medical building south of Cotton Creek Drive or County Road 4 and east of State Route 59.

• Accepting a proposal from Neel-Shaffer for design services for improvements to County Road 6 or Oak Road West for $140,954. The entire project is $4.2 million and will include widening of the County Road 6 intersection with State Route 59 and a sidewalk. The project will be funded in part by a federal BUILD grant or Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development. See related article.

• Authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Gulf Shores Utilities for reimbursement of $3.5 million for relocation of utilities on the west side of State Route 59 from the bridge north to County Road 6 for the ongoing widening project adding a third southbound lane on the roadway. The total project will cost $4.5 million and the extra million is for upgrades Gulf Shores Utilities wants to make to existing infrastructure along the relocation route.

• Increasing the general fund revenue by $2 million in part to “fund salaries and operating expense to the general fund and increase general fund revenues $2,020,250 for beach fund revenues.”
  
  
• Amending the city ordinance to add regulations for screened enclosures that are not covering a pool and moving the regulations for swimming pools and tennis court screened enclosures to the appropriate location within the ordinance.

• Awarding the bid for the heating and air units for Fire Station No. 1 to Coastal Construction for $680,961. The city previously paid $43,270 for design services for the system to Dell Consulting and in February bought $240,227 worth of equipment from Trane to replace the current systems.

• Awarding a bid for City Store merchandise to Empire Printing for various apparel items.