Life Saving Incident
September 25, 1978
California
San Diego County
San Diego
On the morning of September 25, 1978, Officer Fred Edwards was one hundreds of officers who responded to a report of an airliner that had just crashed in a San Diego neighborhood. What no one knew that the crash decimated an entire neighborhood and, with 144 people dead, would be the worst aviation disaster in American history at the time. Officer Edwards arrived to find multiple homes engulfed in flames. Despite the obvious danger, Officer Edwards risked his life to safely evacuate people from two homes. Officer Edwards then came upon another home, also on fire, where the door was jammed shut from the heat. Aware someone could still be inside, Officer Edwards forced entry into the home. There he located a female laying on the floor, disoriented and in shock. Seeing she was unable to safely exit the home, Officer Edwards picked her up and walked through the flames to get her safely outdoors. For his effort Officer Edwards was awarded the San Diego Police Department’s 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.
