Rockaway Police
Officer Christopher Richardson's night began like any other.
Most certainly, there was a briefing and a pre-tour check of the patrol
car and equipment.
Little did Officer Richardson know, by the end of the night he would
change the lives of five people forever.
It was about 2:38 in the morning when Officer Richardson, who was
patrolling the area of Drake Avenue, saw what appeared to be smoke
coming from a residence.
As he got closer, he realized that it was smoke. He had just come
across a structure fire of a home.
Sgt. Conrad Pepperman would later tell the Daily Record, " The fire was
rising up and was right under an upper-level bedroom window."
Officer Richardson ran up to the residence and kicked in the front door.
He ran up to the second floor and gathered a mom, dad, a five-year-old,
and a seven-year-old. He escorted them downstairs and out of the
residence. In the meantime, a fifth person, who was staying in the
basement, made it out of the house, presumably, after hearing the
commotion created by the Rockaway Township officer.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under
investigation.
Fires that begin in the early morning hours often have tragic endings.
This one didn't.
Nice job Rockaway Officer Christopher Richardson.
NJLawman.com
NJLawman.com
Police and Law Enforcement News
Saturday, August 21, 2010 10: 27 p.m.
