Monday, January 9, 2012
West Honored With Life Saving Award
Lawrenceburg Police Department’s Sergeant Mike West received a special award Monday for saving the life of a local resident during a recent house fire.
Members of the department gathered for the special ceremony where West was presented the Life Saving commendation.
Sergeant of the department’s third shift, West responded to a house fire on October 31, 2011 to find that the handicapped resident was still inside. Having only one leg, the resident, Grayford Cooper, had been unable to get himself out of harm’s way. Assistant Police Chief Darren Goolsby explained during the ceremony that West entered the burning home, located Cooper, then “carried him out on his shoulder.”
Goolsby told those present, “You don’t see a lot of selfless heroes now-a-days…but I think Mike West is this kind of hero.”
Police Chief Judy Moore presented the award for “exceptional courage in the line of duty.”
When accepting the award West said, “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. And I’m glad I was there…I think that if any of the guys (officers) had been in my position, they would have done the same thing.”
