Life Saving Incident
December 8, 2014
Illinois
Cook County
East Hazel Crest
In the early morning hours of Dec. 8, 2014, Officer Jalye LaPorte Hankins and a police sergeant were dispatched with the local fire department to a six-unit apartment building engulfed in flames. After observing the thick, black smoke coming from the patio doors of an apartment on the second floor, LaPorte quickly made entry into the building before the fire department even made it to the scene. “I kicked in three doors and entered the apartments and started yelling ‘Fire! Fire!’ to wake the residents and get them to safety as soon as possible,” said LaPorte. Officer LaPorte was presented the South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police Life Saving Awards on Oct. 22. The association recognizes police officers and private citizens for meritorious acts that are consistent with the law enforcement mission of their respective communities. “I appreciate the recognition and the award and I know any other officer would have responded in the same manner,” said LaPorte. “We commend Officer LaPorte for risking her life to save the residents of the building,” said Becky Strzechowski, Local 700 President. “Her determination to protect and serve her community is an outstanding representation of what it means to be a police officer.”
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.
