Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — May 12, 2025 — A University Police Department (UPD) officer at Arkansas State University on Monday was honored for helping save the life of an A-State staff member.
During A-State’s Distinguished Performance and Service Recognition Awards, Sgt. Chase Barnett was recognized and honored for performing CPR on Leigh Anne Hall, an administrative assistant in the Information and Technology Services Department.
Additionally, a student who performed CPR on Hall, Bridgett Sullenger, a rising sophomore studying nursing, was honored.
On Feb. 5, Hall suffered a sudden cardiac event. Sullenger and Barnett performed CPR until emergency medical services arrived. Barnett also administered an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Hall made a full recovery and was on stage when Barnett was presented with the recognition. She could be seen hugging him after they exited the stage.
“It’s always nice to be recognized,” Barnett said. “It felt great.”
Barnett received a Certificate for Lifesaving Actions from UPD Chief Randy Martin. He also received a special badge to wear on his uniform.
This was Barnett’s second lifesaving award. Martin said Barnett received that recognition prior to working with UPD. Barnett has been with the department since August 2022.
“We run 60, 70, 80 medical calls a year on campus. We train for CPR, first aid, AED use. It’s always great when that works out and helps somebody,” Martin said. “A lot of times, you don’t know the outcomes. But in this case, it was someone we work with every day, and we could keep up with them, and it just felt really good that he was able to be a part of keeping her alive and keeping her with us.”
Sullenger, who works with Hall, was on scene when she first collapsed. She said the two are close and talk every day.
“I’m just glad Ms. Leigh Anne’s OK. It was definitely a lot of prayers and definitely God stepping in, intervening and just keeping me calm in the situation and pushing me into action,” Sullenger said. “I just did it. I guess my adrenaline kicked in, I kept calm. But then, after it was just like, it was crazy. The crash was real, but I was just praying a lot and hoping she was OK.”
While presenting the recognition, A-State Chancellor Todd Shields announced that in honor of Barnett and Sullenger’s actions, A-State donated to the Unity Health Education Foundation to fund a new AED device.
“Thanks to immediate, heroic actions from first-year student Bridgett Sullenger and University Police Sgt. Chase Barnett, Leigh Anne is here — healthy, thriving and grateful,” Shields said. “Bridgett and Sgt. Barnett, you didn’t just save a life, you made our Red Wolf family stronger. Thank you for your courageous actions and unwavering dedication to our community.”