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Life Saving Incident

April 27, 2022
New Jersey
Bergen County
River Edge

A rookie River Edge police officer dove into the Hackensack River to rescue a troubled teen who quickly began drowning after she jumped in. Officer Maclane Doran and the 14-year-old girl both went under at least once as the current took her under a footbridge late Wednesday, April 27, River Edge Police Chief Michael J. Walker said. "Then the girl began to go limp -- probably the onset of hypothermia," the chief said. "The river temp was about 50 degrees." Doran brought the girl to the shoreline. Sgt. Marc Abate and Officer Edward Blue helped get her out before she was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, Walker said. Doran, meanwhile, "ingested some river water and was treated and released," he added. The girl's guardian angels had gone to the footbridge by the Von Stuben house on a call of a female in distress around 11:15 p.m. They spotted the girl at the edge of the railing on the bridge's northbound side. Then she suddenly jumped in. Doran quickly shed his outer vest and gun belt and went in. She was just short of mid-river when he reached her. "There was a struggle, as often is with drowning victims when they panic," Walker explained. New Milord and Hackensack police, River Edge firefighters, New Jersey State Park Police and members of the girls' family all responded, he noted. The chief was both proud of his officers and concerned for the troubled teen. Mostly, he was grateful. "If not for Officer Doran's quick decision to enter the river, we may have lost her," he said.

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.