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City council commends four LAPD officers who fought apartment fire and evacuated residents
Summary
Councilwoman Ruth Galanter presented certificates of commendation to Officers Darius Lee, Randy Goddard, Vicki McGee and Narciso Ortiz after the officers entered a burning second‑floor apartment on March 16, extinguished flames and evacuated residents before firefighters arrived.
Councilwoman Ruth Galanter on the council dais commended four Los Angeles Police Department officers for entering a second‑floor apartment fire on March 16, subduing flames with handheld extinguishers and evacuating residents before the Fire Department arrived.
The councilwoman named the officers as Officer Darius Lee, Officer Randy Goddard, Officer Vicki McGee and Officer Narciso Ortiz and asked Captain Gary Williams of LAPD Pacific Division to join them at the lectern. “If it hadn't been for their quick, brave response, the apartment would have been completely engulfed in flames,” Galanter said, attributing the assessment to the fire department's report to Captain Williams and her office.
Nut graf: The council recognized a rapid emergency response by police officers who, according to city remarks on the record, entered the burning unit with handheld extinguishers and assisted with evacuations, actions the presenters said helped prevent loss of life.
According to Galanter's remarks on the record to the council, Lee and Goddard forced entry to the burning unit, advanced through a living room “completely in flames,” and operated handheld extinguishers despite heavy smoke and intense heat. Galanter said McGee and Ortiz went through the building evacuating other residents.
Captain Gary Williams, who identified himself as Pacific Division captain, told the council the department often arrives at fires before the Fire Department and praised the officers, noting that Randy Goddard also recently assisted at another fire scene. “There are thousands of officers out there every day risking their lives,” Williams said.
The presenters said the occupant and other residents were evacuated and were unharmed, and the officers were not reported injured. Certificates of commendation were given on the council floor.
Ending: The council's acknowledgement was ceremonial; no formal policy action followed from the presentation.
