The Cynthiana Police Department is strengthening emergency response efforts by equipping every patrol vehicle with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), ensuring officers are prepared to provide immediate lifesaving care when every second matters.
According to Chief Eric Kendall, the effort began after attending the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, where the department learned about Project Heart Restart and its partnership with AVIVE AEDs. The initiative works to provide donated AEDs to law enforcement agencies across Kentucky. While Cynthiana was placed on a waiting list to receive donated equipment, Chief Kendall said the timeline for full implementation statewide could stretch for years.
“At that point, I realized we need to move forward and explore implementing this program ourselves as soon as possible,” Kendall explained.
For Chief Kendall and the department, the decision came down to one important reality: in a cardiac emergency, the first few minutes can mean the difference between life and death.
In communities like Cynthiana, police officers are often among the first to arrive on scene, particularly in emergencies where every moment matters. By equipping patrol vehicles with AEDs, officers can begin lifesaving care immediately rather than waiting for EMS to arrive. The devices will help reduce the time between cardiac arrest and defibrillation, improve the chances of restoring a viable heart rhythm, and expand access to lifesaving equipment across homes, schools, businesses, and public spaces throughout the community.
What makes the program especially meaningful is how it is being funded. The department is utilizing forfeited drug seizure funds alongside support from the police social worker grant to invest directly back into public safety and community well-being.
Chief Kendall said reinvesting these resources into the community transforms funds tied to criminal activity into something positive and life-saving.
“By using these funds to purchase AEDs, the department is making an investment in the health and safety of the residents of Cynthiana,” Kendall shared. “It reflects our broader mission of supporting the well-being of the community beyond traditional law enforcement duties.”
The initiative also reflects the evolving role of modern policing. Kendall emphasized that officers today are called to respond not only to crime, but also to emergencies where residents may need immediate medical assistance, compassion, and support.
“This program reinforces that law enforcement agencies are continually adapting to meet the broader needs of the communities they serve,” he said.
For residents, Chief Kendall hopes the message is simple: the Cynthiana Police Department is committed to doing everything possible to protect and serve the community.
“Many of our officers are lifelong members of this community,” Kendall said. “We live here, raise our families here, worship here, and care deeply about the people who call Cynthiana home. When we respond to a call, we are often helping neighbors, friends, classmates, or loved ones of people we know personally.”
As AEDs are added to every cruiser, the department says the devices represent one more tool officers can use to respond when lives are on the line- helping ensure they are as prepared as possible when every second counts.