Sen. Griffo presents Liberty Medal to Lewis County state trooper

Albany – At a ceremony in Albany today, state Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-I-C-Rome, presented a New York State Senate Liberty Medal to a state trooper from Lewis County who risked his life to rescue multiple people from a burning home in Carthage.

On July 4, 2017, Trooper Thomas Miller, of Copenhagen, received a call for a structure fire on Frances Street in the Village of Carthage.  At the scene, he observed that a multi-unit home was fully engulfed by flames and was told that a woman and children were still in a bedroom in the basement of the building. With the front door of the apartment on fire, Trooper Miller, along with a firefighter, ran to the back of the home. Once there, Trooper Miller broke a ground-level window, went into the basement and located the woman and a 5-year-old child. Trooper Miller immediately grabbed the child and handed her to the firefighter. Trooper Miller then made his way to the first floor of the building to wake up another individual so that he could get out of the house.

The woman also stated that she had an 8-year-old daughter asleep in a bedroom on the second floor of the building. Making his way to the second floor, Trooper Miller was able to locate the child. He wrapped the girl in a blanket and carried her outside to waiting medical personnel.

“Trooper Miller selflessly risked his own life while rescuing several people, including two young children, from a burning home,” Sen. Griffo said. “His courageous actions, along with the firefighters and first responders on the scene, likely resulted in lives being saved. It is an honor to recognize Trooper Miller with a Liberty Medal.”

The Liberty Medal is one of the highest civilian honors a New Yorker can receive. The award is given to individuals who have merited special commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers.

Trooper Miller also received a Superintendent’s Commendation Award from the state police.