12 people converge on patrol car; forcefully remove officer.

**Ender** · 03-03-08, 06:40 PM

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/78444.php

To be honored:

A dozen Tucson-area citizens will be honored for their heroic acts that helped save a Pima County sheriff deputy's life earlier this year, a sheriff spokeswoman said.
Each of the 12 persons will be given a Sheriff's Citizen's Medal for "selfless actions in saving Deputy Hector Palomino from certain death," Deputy Dawn Hanke said in a news release.
The medals will be awarded by Sheriff Clarence Dupnik at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 130 W. Congress St.
Around noon Feb. 6, Palomino was responding to a vehicle collision on Ajo Way near Kinney Road when he collided with a pickup truck that turned into his path on Ajo at La Cholla Boulevard, Hanke said.
The impact caused Palomino's patrol car to flip over, and it landed on the driver's side, trapping the deputy behind the steering wheel, Hanke said.
A dozen witnesses rushed to help Palomino, while others went to help the other driver. Both survived, Hanke said, although she had no further information on the other driver.
Helpers were able to push Palomino's car back into an upright position as flames began to spew from beneath the hood, Hanke said.
"The rescuers had to forcefully tear open the driver's side door as it was crushed in the closed position," Hanke said. Some also used a hand-held fire extinguisher to help quash the fire while others untangled the deputy from the wrecked, burning car, she said.
All 12 continued to help him until medical personnel arrived.
Palomino was airlifted to a hospital and treated for his extensive injuries, Hanke said.
The 12 people being honored are: Ron Ballou; Micah Boivin; Gilbert Fimbres; Paul Madewell; Doug McFarland; Benjamin Melendez; Raul Rojas; Felipe Sandoval; Mark J. Soza; Eileen Sykora; Ron Tobin and Adam Welch.

It is nice to see random strangers band together and perform heroically at times it is needed.

Kind of restores my faith in humanity a bit.

**gozling** · 03-03-08, 06:59 PM

yeah that is nice and does restore my faith as well.

incredible shots!

**ex401mp** · 03-03-08, 07:07 PM

Good for them. It's good to see that there are still people out there who are decent like that and are willing to help.

**BigDawg** · 03-03-08, 07:12 PM

God bless them and all like them. Its nice to see some people actually get invovled when they see someone who needs help, regardless of who it is.

**213th** · 03-03-08, 07:17 PM

Wow! Kudos to them

**Doc_Holliday** · 03-03-08, 07:24 PM

EFFING amazing...just when I think the world is gone, a ray of hope shines in...

**Ender** · 03-03-08, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by 213th

Wow! Kudos to them

agreed. if you read the article closely, it appears that they flipped the friggin car over before forcing the jammed door open.

Heroes, all.

**213th** · 03-03-08, 07:36 PM

To often the mentality would be "Someone should do something, but that just isn't me" or for a cop I'm sure it'd be much less civil atleast in some places.

**kjlaw** · 03-03-08, 07:37 PM

Good to see people who still care about not only the police but people in general.

**kjlaw** · 03-03-08, 07:37 PM

Good to see people who still care about not only the police but people in general.

**Buttercup** · 03-05-08, 03:59 AM

That is awesome! From the title of the thread I was expecting something completely different.

**Jenna** · 03-05-08, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by Buttercup

That is awesome! From the title of the thread I was expecting something completely different.

Me too, because of the word "forcefully." Glad the force was used against the door and not the officer!

**Ruffy** · 03-05-08, 10:46 AM

Way to go guys I give them mad props for that man.

**HudsonHawk** · 03-05-08, 11:16 AM

People surprise me all the time. Just when I think I've lost my faith I see strangers acting selflessly to help others. It makes me remember why I came on the job.