Back in my days as a single individual, I experienced a harrowing incident on my way home from work. While cruising along the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles at a speed of 80 miles per hour, I unexpectedly ran over a mattress that had found its way into the fast lane. The mattress promptly became lodged beneath my car, and with vehicles zooming by, I struggled to steer my car safely over to the shoulder. Once there, I prepared to call AAA, utterly unsure of how to handle the situation.

Just as I was about to dial for assistance, a California Highway Patrol officer appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He requested my car keys, and, caught off guard by his sudden arrival, I handed them over. With determination, the officer dislodged the mattress from under my car and moved it to the shoulder. He then examined the wheels and returned my keys to me.

The officer explained, “I had to remove it quickly; otherwise, the mattress could have ignited.” He advised me to have my vehicle checked by a mechanic and kindly inquired about my well-being. Still in a state of disbelief, I assured him I was fine and expressed my gratitude for his help. With a polite nod, he returned to his patrol car and drove off as swiftly and silently as he had arrived.

The California Highway Patrol officer’s vigilance and prompt response not only saved my vehicle but potentially my life as well. It is in moments like these, when quick thinking and decisive action are essential, that law enforcement officers truly excel. This makes it perplexing why some political factions persist in efforts to defund and criticize those who dedicate their lives to such crucial roles.

This perspective needs to shift.

Our focus for this week’s Feel-Good Friday is on the heroic acts of law enforcement officers.

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.”

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