Good Cops and Bad Cops: "Without a moment's hesitation...."

This post was originally published on my old Good Cops and Bad Cops blog on 6-June-2015. And now it's here.

(This originally appeared on another blog on 6-June-2015.)

On Sunday 6 April 2014 NYPD officers Dennis Guerra and Rosa Rodriguez responded to a 911 call about a fire at 2007 Surf Avenue, Coney Island. When they got to the 18 story building they went straight up to the 13^th floor in the elevator. They were overwhelmed by smoke and carbon monoxide almost immediately after the elevator doors opened.

The two officers barely had time to call for help on their radio before the toxic fumes knocked them out. According to newspaper accounts Guerra's last words may have been "Can't breathe! Can't breathe! Can't see!" Moments later the officers were rescued by fire fighters who found them unconscious.

Guerra and Rodriguez were both hospitalized in critical condition. Rodriguez gradually recovered but Guerra died a few days later at 6:50 AM on Wednesday 9 April 2014. Guerra was a 38 year old father of four with seven years on the NYPD Housing Bureau. Rodriguez was a single mom, also of four, with four years on the force.

These two officers, Dennis Guerra and Rosa Rodriguez, were good cops who did exactly what good cops are supposed to do – when people were in danger, they rushed to help, even at risk to their own lives.

A resident of the building where the officers were overcome said, "It hurts that two police officers came here to save our lives and they are the ones getting hurt."

Commissioner Bill Bratton said, "Police officer Guerra gave his life trying to save others and that is the ultimate selfless act."

Mayor Bill de Blasio's comments included, "We had a very brave police officer Dennis Guerra who did something that most of us wouldn't understand how to do. He went towards those in danger no matter the risk to him.... He went selflessly toward the flames... Without a heartbeat's hesitation, he and officer Rosa Rodriguez did what so many wouldn't have had the courage to do."

Thanks to Guerra and Rodriguez for showing us an example of good cops in action.

For more information click on the links below:

• http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2014/04/dennis_guerra_nypd_marcell_dockery.php
• http://nypost.com/2014/04/08/mother-of-burned-cop-lashes-out-at-smiling-firebug/
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2600660/NYPD-cop-Dennis-Guerra-dead-arsonist-16-sets-fire-Brooklyn-apartment-building.html
• http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/nypd-officer-responded-coney-island-fire-dies-article-1.1750442
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/09/dennis-guerra-dies-nypd-fire-coney-island_n_5118258.html

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway

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