Chandler Police Officer Brian Larison was honored at the City Council’s March 24 study session for his heroic and quick action at a February vehicle wreck.
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FIRST RESPONDERS
Chandler officer among honorees for heroics
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chandler Police Officer Brian Larison was honored at the City Council’s March 24 study session for his heroic and quick action at a February vehicle wreck. From the left are Chandler Assistant Police Chief Melissa Deanda, Council members Angel Encinas, Jane Poston and Jennifer Hawkins, Officer Larison, wreck victim Aymee Ruiz, Police Chief Bryan Chapman, Mayor Kevin Hartke, Vice Mayor Christine Ellis and Council member O.D. Harris.
Chandler Police Officer Brian Larison was honored at the City Council’s March 24 study session for his heroic and quick action at a February vehicle wreck.
Larison was on his way to work the morning of Feb. 18 when a violent, seven-vehicle wreck along U.S. 60 in Mesa happened in front of him.
Larison and off-duty Peoria firefighter and medic Asa Paguia, who also happened to be on-scene, pulled wreck victim Aymee Ruiz out of her vehicle as fire had broken out nearby.
By breaking her driver’s side window and pulling Ruiz out, Larison and Paguia probably saved her life, Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke said in reading about why Larison was receiving a community hero award.
“We recognize the exceptional bravery and quick thinking of Officer Larison,” Hartke read. “His actions represent the highest standards of courage and selflessness.”
Chandler Police Chief Bryan Chapman said the lifesaving actions Larison took weren’t something the department trains officers to do.
“That was just basic human kindness,” Chapman said. “That’s the kind of people who work for the city of Chandler.”
A cement-truck driver was cited for causing the multi-vehicle wreck.
Ruiz was also at the study session, taking a group photo with Larison, Chandler Police leaders, Hartke and the council.
“He deserves it,” Ruiz said of the recognition. “Thank you to everybody. It’s an honor to be part of this recognition.”
Larison and Paguia were also honored at a recent Mesa City Council meeting.
Jason W. Brooks is a News editor for the Daily Independent and the Chandler Independent.
He covers the Chandler area for both yourvalley.net and the monthly print edition while writing for and assisting in the production of the Daily Independent.
Brooks is a well-traveled journalist who has documented life in small American communities in nearly all U.S. time zones.
Born in Washington, D.C. and raised there and in suburban Los Angeles, he has covered community news in California, New Mexico, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and northern Arizona.
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