Life Saving Incident
March, 1956
California
San Diego County
San Diego
As a patrolman in March 1956, Mr. Washington arrived in a patrol car at the scene of a collision between a concrete-mixing truck and a coffee truck. The fuel tanks of both vehicles burst into flames. Leslie D. Graves, the driver of the coffee truck, tried to free himself but his foot was trapped between the clutch pedal and a displaced floor board. With flames soaring 6 to 8 feet, Mr. Washington stepped onto the running board of the coffee truck. He dislodged Graves' foot from his shoe and dragged him to a nearby lawn. Graves, who sustained severe burns, recovered during a three-month hospital stay. The driver of the other truck died in the fire. Mr. Washington left the SDPD in 1958 to become an agent for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, a predecessor of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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.
