Commendation for Life Saving · 2008

When a single act of courage saves a life, the recognition that follows often comes from more than one governing body. The 2008 flood rescue on the Fond du Lac River was one of those rare moments, earning official recognition not only from the Fond du Lac Police Department, but also from the Wisconsin State Legislature.

In June 2008, during the historic flooding of the Fond du Lac River, Officer Keywon C. Brown was involved in a life-saving rescue that would remain one of the most memorable moments of his law enforcement career.

At the time, Officer Brown was a rookie police officer, and the incident presented a situation unlike anything he had experienced in his career up to that point. It was also a scene that even veteran officers had rarely encountered.

A man, Christopher Freund, became trapped in the rapidly moving floodwaters near the Division Street Bridge after the ground beneath him gave way. He was eventually pulled into the water and became caught among the pylons. The situation quickly became critical.

Firefighter Edgar Ramirez-Tellez entered the water during the rescue, followed by the coordinated efforts of other rescuers. Officer Curt Beck, Officer Vance Henning, and Officer Keywon C. Brown were also involved in the rescue operation.

Officer Brown helped drag the victim from the floodwaters and bring him toward safety. When the victim was pulled from the water, he was unconscious and not breathing. The situation immediately became a medical emergency.

Firefighter Steve Pieper performed CPR, while paramedics continued life-saving medical efforts. After approximately a minute of CPR, the victim began spitting up water and, most importantly, began breathing again. He was transported to St. Agnes Hospital for further treatment.

For their actions during the rescue, Firefighters Edgar Ramirez-Tellez and Steve Pieper, along with Officers Curt Beck, Vance Henning, and Keywon C. Brown, were recognized for their heroism at a ceremony in June 2008.

While Officer Brown was honored for his role in the rescue, he has always viewed the award as a recognition of teamwork rather than an individual accomplishment.

Officer Brown was a rookie officer at the time, experiencing a situation that was new, dangerous, and unlike anything he had encountered before. He was fortunate to be surrounded by officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who relied on their training, courage, and one another to bring someone out of an extremely dangerous situation.

Officer Brown has tremendous respect for Officer Curt Beck, Officer Vance Henning, Firefighter Edgar Ramirez-Tellez, Firefighter Steve Pieper, and the paramedics who continued the life-saving efforts after the victim was brought from the water.

Each person played an important role.

The firefighters who entered the floodwaters demonstrated extraordinary courage. The officers worked together to assist with the rescue and bring the victim to safety. The medical personnel immediately went to work to restore the victim's breathing and give him a chance to survive.

For Officer Brown, this award represents more than a moment of recognition. It represents one of the earliest experiences in his career that reinforced what it truly means to be a police officer:

When someone is in danger, you act. You trust your training. You trust the people beside you. And you do everything you can to bring that person home safely.

Officer Keywon C. Brown remains grateful to have been part of that team and humbled to have played a role in saving a life that day.