HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso - CC - 025-1973RESOLUTION NO. 25-73
COMMENDING POLICE OFFICER LARRY NOFZIGER
WHEREAS, the Chief of Police, by letter dated
March 15, 1973, '.o the City Manager made the following written
report of the outstanding performance of Officer Larry Nofziger,
a member of the Burlingame Police Department, on March 11, 1973,'
of which the following is a substantial part:
"At 6:22 P.M. Sunday March 11, 1973, the Burlingame Police
Department received a report that a boat had overturned in
San Francisco Bay north of the Showboat Restaurant, and that
people were in the water.
Officer Larry Nofziger was the first officer to arrive
on the levee east of Airport Boulevard. Upon arrival, he
observed an unidentified female hysterically screaming,
"They're drowning!" At this time, he observed two males in
the water approximately 150 feet off shore calling for help.
(The existing conditions were high tide, high winds which
created heavy waves, and darkness rapidly approaching.)
Both males appeared to be either non -swimmers or suffering
shock and exhaustion, as they were flaying their arms in a
feeble attempt to stay above water.
As Officer Nofziger was requesting assistance from other
Burlingame units and the United States Coast Guard, he
observed Mrs. Larry Buffington remove some of her clothing,
jump in the water and dog -paddle toward the two males.
Without hesitation, Officer Nofziger stripped off his gun
belt and dove into the water fully clothed, including combat
boots, which he felt he didn't have time to unlace. While
swimming out, he passed Mrs. Buffington and observed one of
the males go underwater and never reappear. He was able to
reach Larry Buffington, who was so exhausted that Officer
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Nofziger proceeded to pull him toward shore.
While doing so, they came upon Mrs. Buffington, who held
onto her husband while Officer Nofziger pulled them both to
shore. Upon reaching shore, other officers assisted Officer
Nofziger in lifting both parties up to dry land.
It was now total darkness, which prevented officers in
making any further attempts to locate Brian Thompson, who
never came back to the surface. All efforts by helicopters
were to no avail. Mr. Thompson's body was located March 13,
1973 by members of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office", and
WHEREAS, the Chief of Police has expressed it to
be his view that the conduct of Officer Nofziger on this
occasion was without regard for his own personal safety and
was beyond the call of duty and was performed in the highest
traditions of professional law enforcement, and in consequence
has given Officer Nofziger a departmental commendation and
has recommended that he be given the City's official
commendation
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the
City Council of the City of Burlingame that it concurs in
the recommendation of the Chief of Police; that Officer
Larry Nofziger, on the occasion noted above, demonstrating a
disregard for his own safety and at peril to his own life,
saved the life of another in the best tradition of his calling
and in the performance of outstanding public service; and that
this Council notes with great satisfaction that a written
commendation from his Chief for his heroic act has been placed
in Officer Nofziger's personnel file.
MAYOR/
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I, HERBERT K. WHITE, City Clerk of the City of
Burlingame, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was
introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council held on
the 19 day of March 1973, and adopted
thereafter by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEN: AMSTRUP, CROSBY, CUSICK, MANGINI, MARTIN
NOES: COUNCILMEN: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEN: NONE
CITY CLERK
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