Senior Trooper Scott Keegan, an Indiana State Police firearms instructor, stopped for lunch Tuesday at the Hacienda Vieja Restaurant in Pendleton. State police said he was wearing his range clothes for training when, around 12:15 p.m., he noticed a woman approach the serving staff.
Police said a server who knew Keegan was a trooper gestured to indicate the woman was choking.
"Keegan's training kicked in and he immediately took action, delivering back blows (and) then an abdominal thrust to the woman," police said in a news release. His efforts managed to clear the woman's airway, officials said.
"I'm glad that the staff knew who I was and knew that I could help," Keegan said. "I'm thankful I could assist."
The woman was able to catch her breath and speak with Keegan before she returned to her meal, according to authorities.
"This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of troopers living and participating in the communities they serve," state police said. "As the old saying goes, 'An Indiana State Trooper is never off duty.'"
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