Life Saving Incident
April 7, 2011
California
Los Angeles
West Covina
On April 7, 2011, California Highway Patrol Officer Jacob Moniz performed an extraordinary act of heroism at great risk to his personal safety when he prevented a suicidal subject from running into a traffic lane, directly into the path of a passing big rig.
At approximately 5:35 p.m., Officer Moniz encountered a male subject walking on the right shoulder of eastbound Interstate 10, west of Holt Avenue.
Using the patrol vehicle’s public address system, Officer Moniz instructed the subject to stop. The subject initially stopped and then walked into the far right lane (the number six lane of traffic) as Officer Moniz walked to the right shoulder.
Officer Moniz gave the subject several clear instructions to come to the right shoulder. The subject seemed to comply by taking a couple of steps towards the right shoulder. Suddenly, the subject turned and began to run into the number five lane of traffic. Without hesitation, Officer Moniz ran after the subject, grabbed the back of his clothing, and prevented him from running into the path of a passing big rig.
Upon being detained, the subject indicated he was intentionally trying to run into the path of the big rig to commit suicide.
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.
