Being a first responder isn’t for the faint of heart. Every day you can be put to the test to challenge your mind, body, and spirit. In that moment, you must make split-second decisions and be willing to sacrifice everything to save others.
On a Monday evening in September 2022, Cpl. Benjamin Doty had the opportunity to make a difference and save a life, and he did just that.
While traveling home after his shift at the University of Tennessee Police Department, Cpl. Doty came upon a multi-vehicle accident with serious injuries on Washington Pike. The collision had just occurred and involved two vehicles and a motorcycle.
Cpl. Doty turned on his emergency lights, and notified dispatch of his location, and requested AMR (American Medical Response) Ambulance, Knoxville Fire and Police.
Cpl. Doty exited his vehicle and noticed a victim, later identified as Mr. Ellis, lying in the roadway bleeding profusely. Cpl. Doty grabbed his UTPD issued trauma kit from his police cruiser and began cutting away clothing from Mr. Ellis’ right leg, where his femoral artery had been severed. Cpl. Doty quickly applied a tourniquet and worked to stop the flow of blood. Shortly after, Cpl. Doty’s wife, who is a registered nurse, also traveling after work, saw the accident scene and stopped to assist. She was unaware that her husband was already on the scene rendering aid.
Cpl. Doty then began to check on the other individuals involved in the wreck until other responding agencies arrived on scene. Mr. Ellis was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center where he was taken into surgery for his injuries.
“Due to the timely tourniquet application, Cpl. Doty saved Mr. Ellis’ life and he would likely have expired without it,” said a UT Medical Trauma Surgeon.
“I believe truly that God put them there at that time to save my dad,” said Amanda, daughter of Mr. Ellis. “They (Cpl. Doty and his wife) tied off his leg and stopped the bleeding or he wouldn’t be here.”
Amanda went on to add that Cpl. Doty didn’t have to stop, and she said so many times she has seen officers that are off duty and don’t stop.
“He made a choice that day to stop or I wouldn’t have the man that saved me so many years ago,” said Amanda. “He technically is my stepdad, but he showed me how a dad should treat his daughter, so I will forever be grateful for the choice Cpl. Doty made that day to stop and save him.”
Riding motorcycles was a favorite hobby of Mr. Ellis since he retired, and he was careful and safe and did everything the class he took taught him.
“I told him the thing (motorcycle) would kill him, never did I know how true that statement,” said Hart. “He (Cpl. Doty and his wife) will forever be my heroes for saving my dad that day.”
“When we all took this job, we did it with the noble wish to help people and make an impact,” said University of Tennessee Police Chief Sean Patterson. “There is no greater impact you can make to someone than saving their life. I am thankful that Cpl. Doty represented our agency and his training so well that day.”
“I thought the University of Tennessee should know what a true hero they have on staff,” said Amanda. “There are few good people in this world and he and his wife are some of those few.”
