It seems like every week on the news - we report on some cop or the other who's gone rogue, and done something lawless and shameful. And very rarely do we hear about cops who did the right thing, or the brave thing - or even the heroic thing.
But they did this weekend - and it was all captured one ell phone camera. On Saturday, three teenaged boys who were going down the Macal River in a dory got into trouble near Cristo Rey when the currents pushed the canoe into submerged tree branches and smashed it, leaving the boys hanging on for dear life.
Police were called to the scene and one constable wasted no time in getting some rope, stripping off his uniform shit, and diving in to save them. Fortunately, a bystander captured it from the riverside and here's that video she posted on facebook:...
Jules Vasquez reporting
The cell phone video shows PC Daniel Choc CAREFULLY making his way unto the the smashed dorey, lodged against the piece of a tree - in a strong current.
From there he throws them a rope. It's a lifeline - but this teenager doesn't want to let go of his knapsack - even though his life is at risk.
PC Choc bravely bridges across to him - in the raging current, he tells the boy to come to him - and the child lunges into the current.
Briefly Choc's head goes underwater ...but he re-emerges and we next see Choc swimming back to the boy who is out of the current now and holding unto another branch, close to shore.
He's safe on the rover bank - but has injured his foot in the canoe crash presumably and the other officer Derwin Garcia tries to get him to safety.
PC Choc then gathers his rope and goes back out into the water to save the next two boys. He secures himself and pulls the next boy easily to safety.
There's one left and Choc cooly re-gathers himself. He throws the rope for the last boy who ties it around his waist and he makes the plunge, but the current slams him back into the canoe. He's caught a cramp, but Choc keeps him held and pulls him in - the last one to safety.
Today, the acting OC for Cayo called it a heroic rescue:
Sr. Sup. Howell Gillett- Acting O. C. Cayo District
"3 young men were in distressed in the Macal River. The officers immediately proceeded to that area. They took some 15 minutes from San Ignacio to that location. There were 6 officers who responded, but 2 of them did acts of bravery and those 2 officers: PC 720 Daniel Choc and PC 1466 Derwin Garcia. Those are the 2 officers who risks their lives, because the water was flooded and the current was strong and they risks their lives to save these 3 young people and they have been identified as Kevin Requena, 17 years old, Leigh Alvarado, 15 years old and Brian Oliver, 17 years old. All of them are from Santa Elena in the Cayo District. They were out paddling in a dorey, but young people again, they didn't asses the risk thoroughly and they could have lost their lives had it not been for the intervention of these 2 officers. Both of them will be rewarded by the officer commanding San Ignacio Mr. Rosado and the Commissioner on behalf of the entire department will do a ceremony to reward the 2 officers who were directly involved in saving these young people lives."
So the brave officers will be hosted at a dinner at Hodies and the Commissioner will also have a day of recognition for their bravery.
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