GAFFNEY, SC (WSPA) – When officer Charlena “Charlie” Camden heads out on a shift, she has a main goal in mind. 

“I enjoy helping people,” she said. 

That was the task three weeks ago in the parking lot of Providence Baptist Church in Gaffney. 

“A car pulled into the parking lot in front of me and the female came running at me,” Camden recalled. “She said her mom wasn’t breathing so I immediately dispatched EMS.”

Camden says she knew she had to help right away.

“I checked for a pulse and there wasn’t one,” said Camden. “I took the seatbelt off, lean the seat back, and got in the seat with her and just started doing CPR.” 

Camden says the woman did not survive.      

“I felt sorry for the family,” she said. 

Days later, Officer Camden was in a similar situation again. 

“I got a call to assist fire and EMS for a possible overdose,” said Camden. 

When she got to the scene EMS was still on the way.

“When I went inside, she was unresponsive on the bed,” said Camden. “As soon as I checked for a pulse she didn’t have one and she wasn’t breathing at all.”

That’s when Camden started CPR.

“Right before EMS came back inside, she gasped like two times and she had a very faint pulse,” she said. 

 Gaffney Police Chief Chris Skinner praised Camden for her service at Monday night’s Gaffney City Council meeting. 

“I just wanted to recognize her for a job well done. I want her to know I appreciate her,” said Chief Skinner. 

It’s appreciation Camden says isn’t what she works for. 

“It’s just what you’re supposed to do as a human,” she said.