ANNA MARIA – After suffering a major heart attack in December, Sgt. Brett Getman is back on duty and again leading the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s (MCSO) Anna Maria Unit.
Getman’s heart attack occurred on Dec. 19. He returned to his full-time law enforcement duties on March 29.
“On Wednesday, the 29th, I was released to come back to full active duty. It feels great. I was a little anxious about getting back to work for the first time in a couple months, but I love being out here in Anna Maria. I love the citizens. I love the businesses. I have a great relationship with everybody, so it’s good to be back to what I like to call my second home,” Getman said.
When his heart attack occurred, Getman was on duty, filling out a report and working in the MCSO satellite office in the city hall building. Deputy Jared Leggett was also in the office at that time and his quick actions likely saved Getman’s life.
Lifesaving actions
On Jan. 3, Getman and Leggett participated in a press conference held at city hall.
“I came back to the office and started doing my report. I was sitting at the desk typing and everything just went black,” Getman said during the press conference. “Thank God Deputy Leggett was in the office with me. If he wasn’t there, I would not be here. The medics treated me quickly and transported me to Blake (HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton).”
Getman referred to his heart attack as a ‘widowmaker’ – the type of heart attack that occurs when the heart’s largest artery is blocked.
During the press conference Leggett said, “We do a lot of our reports in our cars. On this day, I went back to the office. We started having a conversation about what we were going to charge the defendant with. Just after we finished our conversation, he fell out of his chair. At first, I thought he was having a seizure. I checked for a pulse. He didn’t have one. I started CPR immediately and started doing chest compressions.
“On the desk, where he sits, was the AED (defibrillator). I grabbed the AED after two rounds of CPR. I hit the shock button and gave him his first round and started CPR again. About five or six minutes in, Sgt. Tommy Fraser from the Holmes Beach Police Department showed up and was able to relieve me on CPR so I could go get a VBM (breathing device) and start working on his airway. I had one in my truck.”
Leggett was a firefighter and an EMT before he joined the sheriff’s office 11 years ago.
Lifestyle changes
While standing outside of city hall Friday morning, Getman discussed his return to work, his recovery and the lifestyle changes he’s made.
“I’ve dropped a significant amount of weight. I live off chicken, fish and a lot of vegetables. I’m drinking a lot of water and staying hydrated – no soda and no carbonization whatsoever. I’m exercising and walking a couple miles a day. It’s a definite lifestyle change, but when you’re given that second chance you don’t want to take it for granted,” he said.
Getman’s heart attack reshaped his outlook on life.
“It changes a person. It changed me wholeheartedly. You look at a lot of things differently. You don’t take things so seriously and you don’t let the little things bother you anymore. You just can’t. You just move on. I’m thankful every day that I can wake up and come back to work and look at the ocean and spend time with my family and see everybody,” Getman said.
“It’s cliché to say you’re thankful, but I can’t thank Jared enough for being there when he was –
and West Manatee Fire Rescue and Sgt. Fraser from Holmes Beach, Doctor Baig and all the medical staff. You’re indebted to them for the rest of your life. It’s still emotional at times, when you sit back and think about it, but life goes on and you’ve got to live it,” he said.
Getman acknowledged there’s a certain amount of stress associated with being the leader of a law enforcement unit.
“Thankfully, I have a good administration that gives me a lot of support. They are taking on more of the workload that I used to carry. With that, I’ll be able to manage everything else out here just like I used to and it will be just fine,” he said.
Getman’s return coincides with the Island’s peak tourist season.
“The city’s busy. It’s nice to see everybody out and about. It’s nice to see all the activity and all the kids around. I’m just enjoying the scenery out here,” he said.
