A Mesa police officer was honored on Monday for his role in saving two children from a burning apartment building in August. The officer was off duty at the time, but he rushed into the building to rescue the children.
The incident happened on August 4th at an apartment complex on the corner of Mesa Drive and Main Street. The officer, whose name is being withheld for privacy reasons, was driving home from work when he saw smoke coming from the apartment building.
The officer stopped his car and ran into the building. He found the two children, a 5-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl, hiding in a closet. The officer carried the children out of the building and to safety.
The Mesa Fire Department arrived shortly after and extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The officer was honored at a ceremony at the Mesa Police Department on Monday. He was awarded the Mesa Police Department’s Lifesaving Award.
“This officer is a true hero,” said Mesa Police Chief John Meza. “He put his own life on the line to save the lives of two innocent children. We are so proud of him.”
The officer said that he is just glad that he was able to help.
“I was just doing my job,” he said. “I’m glad that I was able to save those kids.”
This is a heartwarming story about a police officer who went above and beyond to save two children. It is a reminder of the many brave men and women who serve in our community.
