Life Saving Incident
January 10, 2007
California
San Diego County
San Diego
(From Life Saving Award)
On January 10,2007, officers received several calls of a man trying to commit suicide in a car. When an officer approached he fled in the vehicle and a pursuit ensued. The driver intentionally drove off of an 80 foot cliff from Scripps Blvd. into a canyon. The driver was ejected and landed about 20 feet from the car, which burst into flames on impact. Officer Mike Tracy crawled down through the brush as the flames reached over 50 feet in height. There was fuel, oil and other flammable fluids spread over the bushes and trees surrounding them. The heat from the fire was unbearable and singed the hair on Officer Tracy's arms. When the tires began exploding, he was ordered out of the canyon. Ignoring the danger of an imminent catastrophic explosion, he provided fire extinguishers to fight off the advancing flames. The flames eventually reached the man's legs and he suddenly scrambled to his feet. Officer Tracy grabbed the closest officer's hand forming a human chain to pull the man up and out of the immediate danger of the flames. Officer Tracy;s heroic actions saved the man's life.
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.
