1st Quarter Awards Ceremony 2012

on September 11, 2011 at 12:30 a.m. Officer Mark Cobb-Adams and Officer Christian Sahlen where on a routine call when they observed black smoke billowing from a high rise building located at 2211 Ala Wai Boulevard the two officers raced over into the building notified security of the situation and activated the building's fire alarm system in an effort to evacuate the residents Officer Cobb-Adams went to the seventh floor and located the fire burning in unit 707 he forced entry into the apartment and saw the fire burning in the kitchen and hallway hearing a voice calling for help he disregarded his safety and entered the smoke-filled apartment locating the lone male resident in the bathroom the mail had sustained burn injuries to his extremities and was in distress Officer Cobb Adams rescued the male and escorted him to safety on the lanai by this time Officer Sahlen arrived on the seventh floor to assist Officer Cobb-Adams he accessed the floor's fire hose and together he and Officer Cobb-Adams battled the blaze until HFD arrived the male victim recovered fully from his injuries and both officers we're treated for injuries they sustained it was later determined the fire was caused by unattended food left on the kitchen stove Honolulu Fire Chief Kenneth Silva praised the officer's actions in a letter to Chief Kealoha he wrote the two officers rescued the resident and prevented further damage to the unit and exposures while placing themselves in harms way Officer Cobb-Adams and Officer Sahlen's actions that morning were quick thinking and courageous their bravery in the face of danger is commendable and they are worthy of recognition the Honolulu Police Department is honored to present the Bronze Medal of Valor to Officer Christian Sahlen Officer Sahlen was unable to attend today's ceremony but let's give him a round of applause the Honolulu Police Department is proud to present the Silver Medal of Valor Officer Mark Cobb-Adams