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NewsBrookfield firemean, cop recognized for heroic actionsBy James Pluta History was made in Brookfield earlier this month, when two firefighters and a police officer were recognized for their heroic actions above and beyond the call of duty. It was the first time in the 29 years the annual medal of valor awards have been given out by the nonprofit 100 Club that two firefighters and a police officer were cited from the same suburb. At. a Nov. 12 ceremony, firefighters Nick Tomrczko and Patrick O’Brien, along with Patrolman Lawrence Kutella received the civilian recognition, which the trio will actually be able to wear on their uniforms. The Chicago-based organization, which typically gives out four awards annually provides funding for spouses and children of those lost in the line of duty. This year it gave out five awards, specifically to recognize Tomeczko and O’Brien for their actions at a January house fire in the 3500 block of Park Avenue. They were the first ones on the scene and were assigned to do a primary search. In no time, Tomeczko — the father of a nearly 1-year-old child at the time — discovered a baby carrier with a 4-month-old infant girl inside. Further inside the home, O’Brien found a 4-year-old boy, who survived for nearly two days before he died. An elderly gentleman also perished in the blaze. The experience was the second time in a year in which O’Brien rescued someone from a house fire. About a year earlier, he rescued a child in a rear bedroom. In a separate incident, Kutella was feted for darting into a building in the 9100 block of Sahler Avenue in March 2009, and returning to the building two other times to lead 10 residents to safety — all the while without any protective clothing or safety gear — out of first and second floor apartment units. |
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