Today, Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,I,Ref-North Tonawanda) honored two local law enforcement officers for the exemplary and heroic actions they displayed earlier this summer.

Lt. Matthew Hurtgam and Officer Matthew Vosler of the Lockport Police Department were both presented New York State Liberty Medals after saving the life of a Lockport woman who had become trapped in her flame-engulfed residence.

Lt. Hurtgam and Officer Vosler reported to a house fire call at approximately 1:20 a.m. on the morning of July 7, 2018, to find a 72-year-old woman trapped in her first-floor bedroom that was surrounded in flames. Unable to wait for the arrival of the fire department, the officers removed an air conditioning unit from a window of the bedroom and located the trapped resident. With the assistance of Lt. Hurtgam and Officer Vosler, the trapped resident was able to escape through the now open window and flee to safety.

“Thanks to the courageous spirits and quick thinking of Lt. Hurtgam and Officer Vosler, a life was saved,” said Sen. Ortt. “While our officers receive the best of the best when it comes to training, nothing can prepare an individual for that moment of action when you have to put your life on the line for a stranger. The courage to do so is something that comes from within, and the heroic characters of Lt. Hurtgam and Officer Vosler were on full display in the early hours of that July morning. We are grateful to have individuals of this quality protecting our community.”

The New York State Liberty Medal is the highest honor an individual can receive from the state Senate. The medal is awarded to individuals who have displayed exceptional, heroic and humanitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers.

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