Police dispatcher Todd Grant says he’s no hero.

On his lunch break at Friendly’s Pizza last month, he acted fast when a waitress told him a woman was choking on her lunch.

Grant, a 10-year veteran of the Dartmouth Police Department, called for an ambulance as he tended to the woman, striking her back to dislodge the food. Afterwards, she was fine and didn’t require treatment.

Prior to joining the Dartmouth police, he worked as an EMT in Rhode Island for nearly two decades.

On Monday, he was formally recognized by the Select Board for his actions with other members of the force in attendance.

“Todd, being trained as an EMT and an official with the police department, went over and assisted and saved the woman’s life,” Select Board Chair Shawn McDonald said. “We honor Todd Grant for his actions and to show our respect and thanks for his quick thinking.”

On behalf of the board, McDonald then handed Grant a citation.

Grant said he found the recognition humbling, adding that he didn’t see anything particularly heroic about his actions.

“This is a very big surprise to me to be recognized like this. I didn’t think I was doing anything out of the realm of my training,” Grant said. “I would do it again and again.”

In response, McDonald said such actions merit recognition.

“This is something that is very recognizable. You saved a person’s life,” McDonald said. “Something like that should always be acknowledged.”

In the audience that night were members of the town’s Boy Scout Troop, who McDonald addressed.

“This is a lesson for our Scouts. We have a tendency to give our athletes, who get paid to entertain us, hero status. Boys, that’s a hero and the gentlemen wearing the blue, those are heroes,” McDonald said. “They protect us to make sure our lives are safe.”