Two Roanoke Rapids police officers who led a man to safety following a house fire on Henry Street in May were awarded lifesaving commendations during Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Fire Chief Jason Patrick said that while firefighters were responding to the fire in the 900 block they were receiving multiple calls that someone was still inside the house.

Of the actions of Officer Cody Cooke and Sergeant Isacc Nielsen, Patrick said, “I think this shows how all of our departments work together so closely. The officers were in the area and were able to get there a lot quicker than the fire truck. They were able to get there and make sure everyone was out and were able to locate this subject.”

Patrick said if Cooke and Nielsen, who was a corporal at the time, “Hadn’t done that — who knows what the outcome could have been.”

He said the room where the fire was located was next to the room firefighters believed the man was in. 

Police Chief Lawrence Wiggins read the citation to the council. “For acts beyond normal police performance that contributed to the meaningful outcome of the preservation of life, Sergeant Neilsen and Officer Cody Cooke are hereby awarded the lifesaving award.”

The citation notes that the fire call was received on May 21 at approximately 11:30 p.m. “Upon arrival, the officers found a two-story residence involved with visible flames protruding from the kitchen area (and) extending up the side of the residence.”

The commendation says that the officers were advised someone was still inside. “These officers attempted to enter the home to preserve life. Being met with insurmountable smoke at the main entry to the residence, the officers were advised of the back window where the unaccounted for occupant slept.”

Wiggins said, “Without delay, they ran to the back of the residence, broke the window, and began to call out for the occupant to come to them. The occupant had conditions which made communication difficult at that moment. However, through their experience and their training, they were able to convince the occupant to exit through the window to safety.”

Wiggins said, “Based upon the location of the fire within the residence, had these officers not acted, the occupant would have encountered the fire while attempting to escape, which would have more than likely caused his demise. The actions of (Sergeant) Nielsen and Officer Cooke contributed to the meaningful outcome of the preservation of life of a member of the Roanoke Rapids community.”