(KNSI) — A St. Paul police officer is being hailed as a hero after saving four children from a burning home Thursday morning.
According to a post on the department’s Facebook page, officer Bill Baudette was on patrol on the city’s East Side when he noticed smoke coming from a nearby neighborhood. He called for St. Paul Fire, then rushed to the house to make sure there was no one inside. One person was found in the upper unit and helped to safety, but when he knocked on the door to the lower unit, there was no answer. Not wanting to take any chances, officer Baudette kicked in the door and found four terrified children between the ages of three and seven.
The kids were safely reunited with their father, and the St. Paul Fire Department put the fire out.
The post says, “Officers don’t get to choose calls. These calls choose the officers. Officer Beaudette was in the right place, at the right time, and was able to change the course of this event for this family.”
Officer Beaudette is a 29-year law enforcement veteran and the most senior police officer at the Saint Paul Police Department. He was recently presented with the Richard H. Rowan Award, awarded to an officer who exemplifies legacy, leadership, integrity, courage, and innovation.
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