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Life Saving Incident

August 31, 2017
California
Los Angeles county
Los Angeles

On the evening of Aug. 31, 2017, Officer Jeromy Paciorkowski and his partner were conducting crime suppression activities in Harbor Area when they observed thick black smoke coming from the second-story windows of a nearby residence. They responded to the area and were immediately advised by other residents that people were trapped inside the burning building. As they approached the residence, they saw two men standing on the second story roof landing, trying to pry the security bars of the window off while yelling at them that a child was trapped inside. Immediately and without hesitation, Officer Paciorkowski climbed a nearby ladder to the second floor landing just as the men pulled the security bars off of the window. He saw smoke billowing from the window and felt an intense heat coming from inside. With little regard for his own safety, Officer Paciorkowski positioned himself in front of the window, reached inside the burning structure, and, together with the two men, pulled a child out of the apartment through the window and onto the roof. Once the child was on the roof, he saw that she had significant burns to her legs and face and that she was not breathing. He immediately began CPR in an effort to revive the girl. She began breathing but did not regain consciousness. Officer Paciorkowski continued to administer first aid to the child until LAFD paramedics arrived and relieved him. During the incident, Officer Paciorkowski suffered disorientation and pain to his lungs from the smoke inhalation. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. The subsequent investigation into the cause of the fire revealed it was intentionally set by another resident who wanted 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.