Inspiring Achievements: How Empowered Law Enforcement and First Responders Shine on Feel-Good Friday

During my single days, I experienced an unexpected adventure on my daily commute home from work. While speeding along the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles at 80 miles per hour, I suddenly found myself running over a mattress that had been left in the fast lane. The mattress got stuck under my car, and with vehicles racing by, I struggled to maneuver over to the shoulder of the road. Once safely there, I was ready to call AAA, feeling uncertain about what to do next.

Before I could even dial the number, a California Highway Patrol officer appeared seemingly out of nowhere. With a firm but calm demeanor, he asked for my keys. Taken aback by his swift arrival, I handed them over without hesitation. The officer expertly dislodged the mattress from underneath my car and moved it to the side of the road. He then inspected the undercarriage and wheels to ensure there was no further damage, and returned my keys with a reassuring nod.

“I had to get it out quickly,” he explained, “otherwise, the mattress could have caught fire.” He advised me to have my car checked by a mechanic and, with genuine concern, inquired if I was alright. Still in a bit of shock, I assured him I was fine and expressed my gratitude for his prompt help. With a simple “You’re welcome,” he returned to his cruiser and departed as swiftly as he’d arrived.

The officer’s vigilant awareness and quick response not only saved my vehicle but possibly my life. It’s in moments like these that law enforcement professionals truly shine, showcasing their commitment to public safety through decisive action. This encounter leaves me baffled as to why some political factions, particularly among Democrats and the left, continue efforts to defund and criticize law enforcement who act with such dedication and courage.

This perception and approach towards law enforcement need to evolve.

That needs to change.

Hero law enforcement is the subject of this week’s Feel-Good Friday.

Speaking of California, on February 20, a fire broke out in an apartment building in Milpitas, a city in the San Francisco Bay area. Several of the residents, including one family with a toddler and a dog, were confined to their balconies on the second story of the building, trying to escape the quickly moving flames. 

The Milpitas Police Department shared the 911 call, and the incredible action by two of their officers, on their Facebook page.

LISTEN/WATCH:

Last Saturday at about 3:13 PM, our Dispatch Center received a call from residents trapped inside a burning apartment near the 550 block of S. Park Victoria Drive. Flames were spreading quickly through the building, and the callers were sheltering on a second-story patio, asking for help.

Dispatchers immediately coordinated police and fire response. In less than two minutes, Officer Barragan and Officer Hartley arrived to find the apartment fully engulfed, with smoke and flames pushing outward as the family waited above.

With the fire intensifying, the officers quickly assessed the situation and began communicating with the family on the patio. Working together, they guided the parents through the unimaginable, safely dropping their 3-year-old child down to waiting officers below. Moments later, the family dog was also dropped safely.

Then they helped the rest of the family members make their way down the ladder. That must have been incredibly frightening for this family, but they trusted that Officers Barragan and Hartley would do their utmost to ensure their child and their dog were safe. Moments after the dramatic rescue, the Milpitas Fire Department arrived on the scene and firefighters ably assisted the other residents off their balconies and away from the building. 

Not one life was lost. That’s a huge win.

We are incredibly thankful for the calm and courage shown by the residents during such a terrifying moment, and for the seamless teamwork between our dispatchers, officers, and fire personnel. We are grateful to report that no one was seriously injured. 

Another Feel-Good Story: Off-Duty ICE Agents Save a Boy’s Life; So Much for the Terrorized Citizens and ICE Gestapo Narrative

Feel-Good Friday: MO Community Shares the Love for Daughters of Officer Injured in the Line of Duty

I wrote another article this week (linked above) about off-duty ICE agents in Minnesota who saved a four-year-old’s life, after the distraught mother asked them for help. With the horrible way that these agents and other law enforcement have been treated, they could have easily called it in and left it to the local LEOs. Instead, they sprung into action, administering CPR to the child and calming the chaos at the scene. 

When law enforcement is allowed to do the job of response, protection, and peace keeping, lives are saved and communities are bettered. There are probably a thousand more stories like these across our great country. I am grateful for the work law enforcement does everyday, and pray we get back to a place where trust and respect is restored; because these heroes deserve it.

Editor’s Note: At RedState, it’s not all about politics and policy. We like to bring attention to what’s good in the world, with columns like “Feel-Good Friday,” “Start Your Weekend Right,” and “Hoge’s Heroes.”

Support our work! Join RedState VIP and use the promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership!