An officer with the College of Alabama Police Division has been hailed as a hero for rescuing a lady from the Black Warrior River.
Officer Albert Canzoneri, who has been with UAPD for almost eight years, earned the Chief of Police’s Medal of Honor for saving the lady, who couldn’t swim.
“I did not count on a medal and even the Medal of Honor. I used to be simply stunned and shocked. However very, very grateful,” stated Canzoneri, a Birmingham native and a graduate of UA.
Canzoneri was working his standard shift on Might 10 when he responded to a police radio name radio a couple of girl who was trying to leap into the Black Warrior River on the Park at Manderson Touchdown. The Tuscaloosa park off Jack Warner Parkway, options 8 acres of waterfront strolling trails alongside the river.
Canzoneri was the primary officer to reach on the scene, the place he discovered a girl who was standing on a concrete ledge over the river.
As extra officers arrived, Canzoneri stated he used strategies discovered in his police coaching to steer the lady to climb off the ledge and sit on a close-by bench to speak for a couple of minutes.
“Some folks simply want a good friend and somebody to take heed to them. Most individuals really feel higher after venting their issues even when its to a stranger,” Canzoneri stated. “She was speaking about how she was simply form of drained all the pieces.”
Canzoneri stated the lady agreed to be checked by paramedics, however when the ambulances arrived, the stress escalated.
“So once they received there, I feel it grew to become obvious to her that she was greater than probably going to go to the hospital. And she or he received up from the bench and took off over the rail,” Canzoneri stated.
The lady jumped into the river and shortly started to panic since she did not know the best way to swim. Canzoneri instantly eliminated his utility vest, belt and boots, then he jumped into the river and pulled the lady to security.
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The UAPD officer stated he did not suppose twice about leaping into the river and referred to as his actions instinctive.
On Might 16, one week after the rescue, UAPD’s Chief John Hooks introduced Canzoneri with the Chief of Police’s Medal of Honor, together with a plaque, throughout a shock ceremony with the officer’s supervisors, household, associates and friends in attendance.
Canzoneri stated he appreciates the respect, however would not contemplate himself a hero as a result of he was simply doing his job.
“Do I really feel I arrived simply in time? It is laborious to inform. In some circumstances, police presence can instantly agitate folks .. (whereas) others really feel extra snug,” Canzoneri stated. “Nevertheless, after I arrived on scene, I consider she was nonetheless battling mentally along with her subsequent alternative.”
Attain Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.