CPI Security is a proud sponsor of the Charlotte Knights’ Hometown Hero Knight at Truist Stadium for the 2023 baseball season. On Sunday, July 23rd, hundreds of people will pack the park to cheer on the Charlotte Knights as they take on the Memphis Redbirds. They will also honor two Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Officers being credited for saving the life of a child who lives with Autism.
Police Officers Brian Cuff and Josh Baswell responded to a call on April 19, 2023, in reference to a young child with Autism who had left home with no shoes on. Officer Baswell was the Aircraft Commander and Officer Cuff was the Tactical Flight Officer. Basewell and Cuff began scanning the area where the child was last seen with a thermal imaging system.
They knew the child had a phone, but they could only track the phone with an accuracy of up to two miles. Approximately an hour and a half later, Basewell detected a small light source using night vision goggles in a heavily wooded area. Cuff then located a small heat source using the onboard thermal imaging system at the edge of a creek and a heavily wooded area.
Basewell and Cuff confirmed the heat/light source to be the small child who had gone missing. They directed patrol officers to the child who was standing in waist deep water with no ambient lighting. The patrol officers made contact with the child and were able to provide medical attention until he was transported to the command post and reunited with his mother.
Basewell and Cuff showed great dedication and technical skill by continuing to search the area for nearly two hours and locating the child by detecting a small heat source with night vision goggles and a thermal imager.
Basewell and Cuff are now being considered for an official CMPD life-saving award for their efforts.
CPI salutes Basewell and Cuff for their bravery and service to the Charlotte- Mecklenburg community.
If you’re interested in recognizing the two officers being honored at this Sunday’s Hometown Hero Knight, visit the Charlotte Knights’ website for tickets to the game.
