Officers Act Fast To Save Lives

On the morning of Wednesday, June 2nd, at 3:30 AM, four (4) Canton Officers responded to Hidden Creek Subdivision regarding multiple homes engulfed in fire.  Officer Michael Caplan, Jesse Lee, Domenick Marotta and Sgt. Tayor Lilley arrived on the scene several minutes before Cherokee Fire began to fight the fire ripping through the neighborhood.

All of the officers assisted in saving residents trapped in a fenced backyard by pulling them over a neighboring fence as the fire destroyed the home.  These brave officers continued to go house to house to remove residence who were in danger of being killed by the fire.  They acted without concern for themselves in the face of danger as they strived to protect the lives of the residents. In one specific incident Sgt. Lilley and Officer Lee physically carried an elderly female unable to walk on her own to safety.

Three homes in the subdivision were destroyed by the fast-moving fire, and three additional homes received moderate to minor damage.

The Officers were honored with life-saving awards at the city council meeting held on Thursday, July 15, 2021.

Front Row (holding the awards): Officer Marotta, Officer Caplan. Officer Lee. Middle Row Deputy Chief W. Turner, Lt. J. Lummus, Chief S. Merrifield. Back row: Captain M. Baldwin, Captain J. Tucker.