Coloradan 'hero' cop rescues dog from burning car in dramatic rescue video
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO: A video shared on Facebook has left people shocked as well as emotional as it showed a hero police officer dramatically rescuing a dog from inside a burning SUV. The incident reportedly happened in January but was posted on the social media site by Douglas County Sheriff’s Office recently. The footage was taken from the bodycam worn by the cop, identified as Michael Gregorek, a deputy working under the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Recalling the incident that happened on January 22, Gregorek said, “My thought at that point was ‘he’s coming out with me regardless of whatever else might be happening.” He explained, “Once I arrived on scene, first thing I see is a gentleman who ended up being the owner of the vehicle, and the owner of the dog, throwing something at the back of vehicle.”
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Gregorek said when he reached the location, he thought someone was throwing “Molotov cocktails,” but soon he heard the man yelling, “My dog’s in the car.” “It flipped [the] switch from ‘It’s obviously not a crime’ to ‘Now we have a life,'” the cop added. The viral video showed Gregorek using a baton to smash the windows of the vehicle before taking the dog, named Hank, out of it.
He noted, “Hank comes to the back window, he’s salivating, you can tell that he’s in distress. [The] owner was trying to pull him out, not successfully,” as he went on to say, “That’s his baby, I’m not going to get in his way while he’s trying to rescue his baby but the second he opens up an opening for me I just went in there and grabbed on and his body had already started to tense up, so I knew he was really in a bad way.” The hero deputy added that “nothing else really mattered at that point other than getting Hank out of the car.”
After the rescue, Gregorek reportedly took Hank into the snow and also informed firefighters. A veterinarian wife of a neighbor who witnessed the account later checked the dog. The cop said, “She checked him out, checked his gums,” before adding, “I went over and gave him a good pet and he’s good.”
Meanwhile, a lot of people have praised Gregorek in the comment section of the Facebook post. A user wrote, “Wow I’m so happy that we still have wonderful brave people in law enforcement. Thank you so much Deputy.” The second one commented, “Wow, what a wonderful happy ending! Great job, Deputy! You brought tears to every dog lovers eyes with this rescue!” The third one noted, “This amazing deputy valued this precious dog's life as much as any human being! He needs to be given an award for his courage and humanity! I know the owner and Hank are forever indebted to this brave officer! Thank you for saving his life!”
A person said, “Omg this melt my heart. Thank God fir the quick response of that deputy!!! Way to go!! Every second counts and he did not waste a single second!! So glad dog is doing well. You are a Hero!!” “I can’t see the video Thank you, officer. Our pets are not just animals. They are family. Losing one this way would be devastating. I pray that everyone is ok and doing well,” another one added.