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Life Saving Incident

January 2, 2018
California
Los Angeles
Los Angeles

In the early morning hours of January 2, 2018, Officers Evan Mott and Sal Obaidee were conducting extra patrol in Southeast Division when they observed fire coming from a second floor unit of a two-story apartment complex. Officer Obaidee immediately broadcast for the fire department to respond and for backup. Without hesitation, the officers began knocking on the doors of each unit to alert the residents to evacuate. They then made their way upstairs toward the burning apartment to see if anyone was inside. They were joined by Officer Anthony Valenzuela who had responded to the call for backup. In order to reach the apartment that was on fire, the three officers had to run past a wall of flames coming from a window. After knocking on the door and receiving no response, Officer Obaidee opened the front door and was met with thick black smoke. The officers called out to see if anyone was inside, but no one responded. Believing everyone had already evacuated, they turned their attention to the unit next door where they heard screaming. They told the occupants that they needed to immediately evacuate, but one of the residents started screaming, “Help my baby!” She then handed her 7-month-old infant to Officer Obaidee, who took him to safety by ducking underneath the flames and running past the burning unit. Officer Mott assisted another resident by lifting her over the balcony into the arms of a person downstairs because she was too afraid to go past the fire. Officer Obaidee and Mott returned to the unit to join Officer Valenzuela in making sure no one else was inside and to clear the rest of the building. In total, the officers escorted four residents to safety.

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.