Life Saving Incident
July 6, 1937
California
San Diego County
San Diego
(San Diego News July 7 1937)
Ernest Saftig, police officer, will be recommended for the Carnegie life saving medal for rescuing William Hardy, 25, a marine, early Sunday morning from a barnacle-encrusted piling at Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach, according to George Sears, police chief. Ordered to the pier by police radio, Saftig answered Hardy's cries for help by removing his police uniform and swimming to the man's aid with a metal life buoy. Saftig took the marine to shore. Hardy was taken to the Naval hospital for treatment of deep lacerations and shock. Sears said: "Saftig acted without thought of his own danger, keeping uppermost in his mind the rescue of the man who was obviously near death."
The history of law enforcement in the United States is a long and wonderful history of bravery. This website is dedicated to documenting the heroic deeds of law enforcement officers throughout the United States who have either given or risked their lives to save others. There are many stories of bravery and heroism for many who are considered first responders. However, it is those in law enforcement who are most likely to be the first to arrive upon a location requiring life saving acts engaging dangerous hostage takers, running into burning buildings/vehicles, providing first aid to seriously injured victims, saving near drowning victims and much more are what the women and men of law enforcement do routinely and at many times, great peril to their own safety.
It is our mission to document the history of lives saved by those dedicated women and men in law enforcement. To share with others the dramatic deeds of those individuals who are the first, first responders. It is so important for our citizens to understand that law "enforcement" is not always about enforcing the law but rather being there when our citizens need us.
It is to this end we are dedicated to promoting documentation regarding the history of law enforcement and the lives they have saved.
