Evelyn Johnson and Andra Crisp were two of only a few civilians among hundreds of police officers Monday at a Toledo Police Department standing-room-only awards ceremony.

Ms. Johnson, 42, and Mr. Crisp, 39, both of Toledo, receive the TPD’s Meritorious Pubic Service Award for their efforts to help Mayor D. Michael Collins after he suffered a cardiac arrest and crashed his vehicle Feb. 1.

“I just did it,” Ms. Johnson said. “I didn’t think about nothing. I just turned around and helped someone in need. ... It’s a good feeling [getting recognized,] and I hope other people retell [our story] and do like we did, and help others, and also get CPR trained.”

Ms. Johnson is a Rally’s cashier who has eight children, ages 7 to 25. Mr. Crisp has four children ages 4 to 17.

“I just help people in need,” Mr. Crisp said. “That’s how you get your blessings. ... [And] I feel good for my kids.”

They broke a window of the city-owned sport utility vehicle, pulled the mayor from the car, and performed CPR by following the instructions of a 911 operator until Toledo paramedics arrived. Ms. Johnson was on her way to work and Mr. Crisp was on his way to Walmart. Mr. Collins died Feb. 6.

The department recognized 36 people, officers and civilians, during the event in Toledo City Council chambers. The honors included the meritorious public service award, a letter of recognition award, a meritorious service award, a professional service award, and other awards and letters of recognition.

Recipients included Toledo police Officer Abraham Cruz, 52, a 23-year department veteran, who received a meritorious service award.

On April 28, 2014, Officer Cruz located, wrestled, and then disarmed a student who was carrying a concealed loaded semiautomatic handgun in a crowded cafeteria at Start High School.

“My main concern was the safety of the 1,500 students and the staff at Start High School,” Officer Cruz said. “When I spotted him in the cafeteria, I had no other recourse but to just snatch him up. I had no other recourse but to nab him and restrain him.”

Monday’s indoor event was followed by an annual memorial service for fallen officers at the memorial garden at Civic Center Mall behind Toledo Municipal Court.

Attended by hundreds of area law enforcement officers, the event included a roll call of fallen officers followed by a memorial 21-gun salute and the presentation of the memorial wreath.

Karen Welter, 68, of Maumee, the daughter of a fallen officer, was one of about 60 civilians present at the event. She said that she tries to bring one of her 10 grandchildren to the event each year.

“I think it’s important that they [the grandchildren] remember their heritage, first of all,” Ms. Welter said. “But especially I think it’s important that we all remember the sacrifice and the work that the police officers do, especially in a time like this, when police seem to be getting a bad rep. And I think we should honor the service of all the officers.”

Her father, Toledo police Officer Albert Fadell, was 29 when he was killed in the line of duty Nov. 16, 1948. On Monday, she was accompanied by her grandson Nolan Russell, 11, of Powell, Ohio.

A motorcycle officer, Officer Fadell was driving on Canton Street on patrol just after starting his shift on a rainy night when he was struck by a car driven by James Bilbrey, 24, a former Mud Hens pitcher, and thrown to the ground. The officer suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries and fell into coma. He died in Mercy Hospital three days later.

Officer Fadell was one of 68 law enforcement officers from 23 departments in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan honored at the memorial ceremony held at the beginning of National Police Appreciation week.

Contact Mike Sigov at: sigov@theblade.com, 419-724-6089, or on Twitter @mikesigovblade.

First Published May 12, 2015, 4:00 a.m.