With the polar vortex still roaring across the country, everyone is frantically doing their part to keep warm and safe. Abbye spent over a year writing about heroes for California Casualty, and recently had the opportunity to experience how some peace officers are willing to go above the call firsthand. This is the story in her words:
On the evening of January 6, the windchill in Ann Arbor, Michigan was around negative 35 degrees. The roads were frozen and icy as I got on Highway 94 headed to the airport. It was around 11 PM and pitch black out. Not 20 minutes into my drive, I hit a patch of black ice and crashed my truck head-on into a highway median. I quickly called 911 and about five minutes later, a Michigan State Trooper named Anthony Young arrived on the scene. Given the horrible road conditions, the inclement weather, and the exceptionally cold temperatures, I’m sure Trooper Young had a long night before he was dispatched to the scene of my accident. But you’d never guess from his demeanor. Upon arrival, he made sure I was okay and even asked about my dog- who had been in the car with me. I have never been in that serious of an accident and I was pretty shaken up and scared. Young was patient, calm and reassuring. I had hit a median and was stuck on the left side of the highway, but Young kept his lights on behind me to alert other motorists and keep me safe from another collision.
Shortly after a tow truck arrived on the scene, the driver inadvertently let my very frightened dog out of the car. My dog, Seamus, immediately took off, sprinting along the center median down the highway. I took off after him. Acting quickly, Trooper Young immediately followed alongside Seamus with his lights on, preventing him from crossing traffic and getting hit by oncoming traffic. Young even tried to cut off Seamus’ run by blocking him between the median and his vehicle, but Seamus hopped over the hood of his car, crossed west-bound traffic and ran off into the woods.
Trooper Young had already written his accident report and I’m sure he could’ve left the scene, or even told me I had to abandon my search for my own safety and his. Instead, Young got out his flashlight and started to help me look for my lost dog. His partner arrived on the scene, and the two troopers, the tow truck driver and I all walked the edge of the woods, calling for Seamus. Admittedly, I was a bit hysterical. I had just totaled my car and now I had lost my dog. Young remained completely calm and never once suggested we abandon the search.
It was Trooper Young who eventually located the spot where Seamus had entered the woods. He then used his flashlight to light the way as I followed Seamus’ trail. The windchill on Monday was around -35 degrees and there was at least two feet of snow on the ground, but Young didn’t give up. He stayed right behind me, trumping through the snow, until we found my freezing, terrified dog. By then, we were miles from the original crash site. When we found Shae, Young just laughed, patting him on the head and commenting on how much he must like a good evening run. I thanked him repeatedly for saving my dog, to which he humbly laughed and said I was lucky to have found the troopers (him and his partner) who were dog lovers.
Lucky is an understatement. I know it may seem like a little thing, helping some hysterical woman find her lost dog, but if you happen to be a dog owner, I’m sure you can appreciate what it would be like to total your car and then lose your dog. I had recently changed Seamus’ collar and knew his new one was without ID. It was dangerously cold and he had just been in a serious car accident, so I was sure he would be in serious trouble if we didn’t find him that night. I just recently moved to Michigan for school and Seamus is the only ‘family’ I have here. Losing him would have been devastating.
Voting is now closed. Click here to view the winner announcement and read all the hero’s stories!
We see a lot of nominations from firefighters and peace officers – but this is the first nomination we’ve ever had that was a peace officer acting like a firefighter!
Tony was nominated because of his heroism during a structure fire in 2012. He responded to an apartment building where the second floor was fully engulfed in flames. When he arrived, an occupant of the building told him that an elderly woman and her son were still trapped on the second floor.
The staircase leading to the apartment was thick with flames and smoke, and visibility was nearly zero. As he reached the second floor, Tony entered two apartments and found them vacant. When his knocks on the third apartment door went unanswered, he kicked it in to discover two people still sleeping. He guided the male occupant to safety, then immediately re-entered the blaze to carry the elderly woman to waiting paramedics.
Tony suffered from smoke inhalation, briefly treated, and then released from the hospital. Because of his heroism, the occupants were unhurt.
Roger has been a deputy sheriff for the past 5 years. He was destined for public service, starting his career as a volunteer firefighter at 18, then as a volunteer deputy while having a full-time job. Roger is also very involved with the Red Cross. He received certification from the OSU fire service while still in high school.
Roger dedicated many years to the Brushy Mountain Fire Dept. During a wildfire, with a year-long drought working against him, Roger drove the only running water truck to nearby houses, until neighboring departments could help. His efforts saved 5 families’ homes.
In 2004, Roger joined with American Red Cross to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees from New Orleans relocating to Oklahoma. Locally, Roger was the Disaster Action Team Leader, responding to fires within the four counties he was in charge of. Roger’s family tells us that he takes time out of his schedule to volunteer as a senior counselor at Oklahoma boy’s state and has been since 2004. As counselor in charge of Police academy, he shows teenagers the aspects of the duties of police officers.. Roger also works with local business for sponsorships for students to participate each year.
In 2008, Roger joined the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office as a Reserve officer. Colleagues of Roger say they can always count on him, no matter what time, day or night. Roger speaks and visits local schools to talk and interact with children about Law Enforcement.
500 homes, 2 lives, and countless possessions were lost in the blaze. A lot of those possessions can be replaced, but some have value that goes much deeper.
In 2006, Officer Jared Jensen with the Colorado Springs Police Department was killed in the line of duty. After his murder, Officer Jensen’s brother and nephew attended the Law Enforcement Memorial in DC where they met officers from across the country. At the event, Officer Jensen’s nephew received patches from the officers he met and decided to start collecting as many patches as he could. His collection was burned in the Black Forest Fire last week.
Let’s replace the collection with an even bigger one.
You can help by sending department patches to:
Adam Romine Colorado Springs Police Dept. 415 E. Pikes Peak Ave, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
Please note – we’ve changed the voting requirements this month. In order to vote, you’ll have to create an account and log in to vote. Once you register, you’ll be taken directly to the voting page.
Don’t want to register? You can still see the voting results – just click here.
Fran C. | Pennsylvania Firefighter & Nurse
On July 4, 2012, Fran entered a smoke-filled home and heard a woman in distress on the 2nd floor. When Fran found her, she was trapped, panicked and out of breathe from breathing in too much smoke. In a split-second decision, Fran took a big breath, removed his tank and put it on the woman. Both got out safely, although Fran was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Fran later met the woman he saved, and presented her with about $500 of his own overtime pay to help her and her family. Fran became a firefighter after following in the footsteps of his retired Fire Captain father.
When Fran isn’t fighting fires, he works as a part time Nurse at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Before becoming a full time firefighter, he worked as a Paramedic.
Nancy J. | Wisconsin Educator
Nancy J. has been enthusiastically servings as the Arrowhead High School Choir Director for almost 30 years. Known for her passion and motivation, Nancy works to make each and every student a part of the team. She uses creativity in her teaching to keep her high school students engaged and enthusiastic about the fine arts. Her hard work shows. Every year, choir performances pack the house and lines to buy performance tickets stretch out the door. Nancy goes above and beyond to highlight her students’ achievements: decorating the halls for their performances, taking headshots so they feel like stars, and accompanying them to weekend contests. Due to Nancy’s unceasing hard work, her high school’s choir and theatre programs have a reputation for greatness.
Corporal Stan P | Georgia Police Officer
When Officer Phillips answered a call about an aggressive dog, he arrived at the scene to find a vicious attack in progress. The dog was biting the victim, a 5-year-old little girl named Lilly, on the face and neck. Officer Phillips rushed to her aid and was able to free her from the dog. The girl was immediately airlifted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, including a missing ear. After saving the girl’s life, Officer Phillips continued to go visit her in the hospital, despite the hour drive each way, and even arranged for donations to pay for her reconstructive surgery. After she was released from the hospital, Officer Phillips helped work with churches and charities to raise money for her continued recovery. Stan has worked on a crime suppression units, SWAT, and road patrols (among others) and coworkers note his dedication and noteworthy impact on high crime areas- calling him a ‘go to’ guy in the field.
When shots rang out in the hospital where Robert works, his first thought was the victim’s safety. As others dropped to the floor, Robert ran to aid of the gunshot victim- a physician who worked at the hospital. After rushing to get his patient to a safe location to receive medical attention, Robert took cover and provided comfort to distraught nursing students. Robert’s coworkers say this kind of heroic action is not out of character for a man who cares deeply about his patients. Robert is an integral member of the Haiti Outreach Mission (HOM). HOM works to bring mobile clinics to distant mountain locations where Robert helps triage patients in need. Closer to home, Robert also speaks out on behalf of his patients, many of whom are victims of violence, by speaking at anti-violence rallies.
Keep an eye on the blog for some of our favorite quotes, images, and resources surrounding the week’s events. And if you see a Law Enforcement Officer in your community, don’t forget to thank them for all they do!
We light a candle in solidarity tonight with the men & women in blue gathered in Washington, DC for the 25th-Annual Candlelight Vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. This ceremony honors the 47 law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2012- as well as all the officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice before them and all those who continue to risk their lives for you and I every day. Learn more here: https://nleomf.org/
