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Life Saving Incident

April 28, 2013
California
Ventura
Unincorporated

On April 28, 2013, California Highway Patrol Officer Wesley Jones responded to a traffic collision on State Route 118, west of Rocky Peak Road, in an unincorporated portion of Ventura County, California. The traffic collision involved a female who intentionally drove her vehicle off the freeway in an attempt to end her life. As a result, her vehicle rolled down a steep embankment and she was ejected. Her vehicle caught fire and ignited the surrounding dense brush. Several people witnessed the traffic collision and pulled over to render aid. One of the witnesses had climbed down the embankment toward the female driver. Once down the embankment, he could hear her calling out but could not locate her amongst the dense brush and fire. Once he finally located her, he grabbed onto her and began pulling her away from the flames. When Officer Jones arrived on scene, he could hear the citizen calling out. Officer Jones immediately climbed down the embankment. As he traversed through the brush and around the flames, he eventually located the pair however, the brush fire had surrounded them and some of the flames were now over 100 feet high. In addition having to rescue the injured female, the witness become extremely exhausted. As Officer Jones was formulating a way out, the wrecked vehicle exploded and ignited even more of the brush. Officer Jones directed the witness to move toward safety as he forcefully pulled the female along through a small opening in the brushfire. Officer Jones ultimately carried the female out of the brush to fire department personnel. Recognizing the witness had become extremely fatigued and disorientated from his strenuous rescue efforts and could no longer continue on his own to a safe location, Officer Jones immediately grabbed onto him and led him along until he could physically climb up the embankment to safety. Officer Jones saved two lives. For his efforts the State of California awarded him the Gold Medal of Valor for his extraordinary act of heroism extending far above and beyond the normal call of duty.

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.