Fremont Police Department, Officer

Other

11/1/2007

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor

On November 1, 2007, at approximately 0902 hours, Fremont Police Officers John Anderson and Brian Shadle were on a traffic stop in front of an apartment complex at 3600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fremont, California. Citizens advised the officers of a fire at one of the apartment buildings. The officers ran into the complex and found a fully engulfed second-story apartment. They were told a person might be trapped. The officers radioed for help and then chose to attempt a rescue. Both officers forced open a locked apartment door and were faced with high heat, flames, and smoke. The officers crawled in just a few feet before being forced out. They quickly got some breathes and re-entered, finding a 40-year-old female victim about 3-5 feet inside. They grabbed her legs and dragged her out. Due to their efforts, the victim survived with burns over 40 of her body and severe smoke inhalation.