Life Saving Incident

December 25, 1981

California

Los Angeles

Officer Shelby Setters was assigned to the Central Los Angeles Officer and was only 15 minutes into her first regular shift when she and her partner Todd Upton spotted a flaming two-car accident on the Santa Monica Freeway. Officer Upton got the unit's fire extinguisher and Officer Setters ran to the burning cars. While passing motorists helped the victim in one car, Officer Setters entered the other burning vehicle twice to rescue the passenger and the driver. She smothered the burning clothes of one victim with her own body. Officer Shelby Setters was the first woman CHP Officer to receive a Medal of Valor.

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.