Milwaukee Police Save 2 Lives in Flood

July 23 -- On July 23, 2010, Police Chief Edward A. Flynn proudly recognized seven officers for the heroism they displayed on July 22, 2010, when Milwaukee saw possibly the largest rainfall in its history. District One Officers Sean Lesnjak and Paul Bjorkquist were on routine patrol when they were flagged down for a report of an intoxicated woman in the river. They immediately went to the river-walk near N. Old World Third and W. State Streets Joined by Officer Alexander Ayala, Officers Lesnjak and Bjorkquist located the woman who was clinging to a ladder that was attached to the pier. The water level was extremely high and the current was dangerously rapid. Officers Lesnjak and Ayala climbed down the same ladder and into the water in an attempt to pull the exhausted woman to safety. The woman lost consciousness leaving the officers unable to lift the woman to safety due to that and the added weight of her drenched clothing. In the meantime, Officer Bjorkquist had followed his partners and held onto them preventing them from being swept away by the violent current. Officer Corey Kroes and Sergeant Daniel Dzievit arrived within several minutes and aided in preventing the officers and woman from being taken by the river Officers Lesnjak and Ayala remained in the river for more than 17 minutes, all the while holding onto the woman to stop the current from taking her and also keeping her head above water. Officers Bjorkquist, Kroes and Sergeant Dzievit continued holding onto their fellow officers so they could keep the woman safe, until the fire department arrived to assist in the rescue. In a separate incident on July 22, 2010, two women were walking in the 900 block of S. 25 Street, when lightning struck them. Officers David Waliszewski Fernando Rojas were the first to arrive. They found both women unconscious, one of which had no pulse and was not breathing. The officers immediately gave life saving CPR while in the pouring rain and with dangerous lightning still around them. The officers continued CPR until the ambulance arrived. Both women were hospitalized.