On August 24, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) today announced Deputy Lorne Juday of the Osceola County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office as the Officer of the Month for July 2026. The deputy was selected for his actions on July 4, when he rescued a man trapped inside a burning vehicle following a crash.

The deputy was responding to the crash when he arrived to find a vehicle with significant damage to its front end and flames spreading near the driver’s compartment. After learning that someone remained trapped inside, the deputy immediately moved toward the vehicle, retrieved a fire extinguisher from his patrol vehicle and began working to keep the flames away from the driver.

The driver’s door had been damaged in the crash and could not be opened. As the fire continued to grow, the deputy directed bystanders to retrieve a pry bar from his patrol vehicle and began working to force the door open. He also called for additional fire extinguishers as the flames moved closer to the trapped driver.

With the fire continuing to spread, the deputy and a bystander ultimately pulled the driver from the vehicle and moved him away from the flames. The driver, who suffered an arm injury, was later evaluated by responding law enforcement and emergency personnel.

“The circumstances facing this deputy changed in a matter of seconds, but he did not hesitate to move toward the danger,” NLEOMF CEO Bill Alexander said. “He used the resources available to him, worked alongside members of the public and remained focused on getting a trapped driver to safety as the fire continued to grow. We are proud to recognize his actions with our Officer of the Month Award for July 2026.”

The Officer of the Month Award Program is sponsored by the Police Unity Tour and recognizes federal, state and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty.

—www.NLEOMF.org—