Life Saving Incident
January 16, 2017
California
Los Angeles County
Lancaster
On the night of Jan. 16, 2017, while patrolling the streets of the City of Lancaster, Deputies Russ Williams and Alberto Rodriguez received a call for service of a single-vehicle traffic collision. When they arrived, they found a vehicle on fire, with two occupants trapped inside. The victims had significant injuries, one with a broken back (later discovered to also have internal injuries) and the second occupant with a compound leg fracture. Even though the car was on fire, Deputies Williams and Rodriguez paid no mind to their own safety, battled the flames and pulled both occupants out of the vehicle. Within 60 seconds of pulling the second occupant out, the car was fully engulfed. On June 8, 2019, Deputies Williams and Rodriguez were presented with the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs — ALADS Life Saving Award.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Garcia of Station 135 said the deputies undoubtedly saved the lives of both occupants.
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.
