Life Saving Incident
April 28, 1954
California
San Diego County
San Diego
In 1954 an unemployed aircraft worker was holding his wife hostage. Detective Zemcik responded to a call regarding a family dispute. When he arrived the location was very quiet. and deceptively peaceful. As he looked around he heard a woman begging a man not to shoot, or kill anyone. It was then that Zemcik spotted a friend, Elvin "bunny" Bunnell a municipal court Marshal coming across the road on a routine mission to deliver court documents. Seeing Bunnell's danger Zemcik jumped in front of him now with his back to the house. He told the Marshal what was happening and said they should play it safe and pushed him away. As Zemcik was turning a shotgun blast hit Bunnell in the torso and Zemcik in the back of the head and shoulder. . Zencik carried Bunnelll to the corner of the building and before he he made it a second shotgun blast rang out hitting Zemcik in the legs. See a tree about 100 yards away Zemcik carried Bunnell to the tree and then returned to the residence.
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.
