Life Saving Incident
January 3, 2019
New York
Tompkins County
Ithaca
On January 3, 2019, a 54-year-old man named Robert P. Gelinas Jr., was traveling in his car down Route 13 in Ithaca, New York, and cut in front of another car while making a left turn. The two cars collided. Gelinas wasn’t wearing his seat belt at the time and was critically wounded. But Pete Tyler, Chief of Ithaca’s police, just happened to be cruising in the area as well when the accident occurred. He parked, exited his vehicle, and ran to the dying man’s side. Chief Tyler administered CPR until the paramedics arrived on the scene and rushed the man to the hospital. The authorities airlifted Gelinas to the nearby Syracuse Hospital as his life hung in the balance. He ultimately survived. If it wasn’t for Chief Tyler’s diligence and quick response, as well as a stroke of luck of being in the same place at the same time, Robert Gelinas Jr. likely wouldn’t be alive today. But thanks to a caring police chief, he lives to tell the tale.
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.
