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Life Saving Incident

December 30, 2020
California
San Diego County
San Diego

On December 30, 2020, a woman suffered a seizure and lost consciousness while driving. Her vehicle crashed into a garage, severing the natural gas meter at its base. As her vehicle sat directly over a severed gas line that was emitting explosive gas at an amount 240 times above the regulated rate, the impact of the collision caused the garage to partially collapse and fill with gas. Officer Ross Gallagher arrived within two minutes and found the unconscious woman trapped inside her vehicle. Recognizing the grave circumstances, Officer Gallagher entered the collapsed garage to make an immediate rescue without the benefit of any safety gear. Officer Gallagher broke open the passenger door and saw the semi-conscious victim. He placed her vehicle in park, shut off the engine, and unhooked the victim’s seat belt. After discovering the woman could not get out of the car without assistance, Officer Gallagher attempted to pull her out. Due to the rising amount of gas, Officer Gallagher began experiencing symptoms of exposure, including lack of oxygen and disorientation. He exited the garage and radioed for assistance. Officer Gallagher re-entered the garage a second time and was still unable to extricate the woman. Officer Joshua Lane arrived. The two officers went back into the garage a third time and successfully pulled the woman to safety. A San Diego Gas and Electric crew responded to the scene and determined that the gas concentration inside the garage was within the explosive range. For their selfless, lifesaving actions in the face of extreme danger to themselves, Officer Ross J. Gallagher and Officer Joshua D. Lane were awarded the lifesaving medal.

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.