Mayor Graham Richard and Police Chief Rusty York today presented a meritorious service citation to six Fort Wayne Police Officers for performing an extremely laudable and extraordinary act.

Police officers honored
* Mark Gerardot
* Todd Hammel
* Todd Hughes
* Troy Jester
* Ben Truesdale
* Phillip Ealing

On October 10, 2005, at 2:29 a.m., the officers responded to a reported house fire at 2734 Chestnut St. Officer Gerardot was the first to arrive and quickly determined that two occupants were trapped by fire inside their home. Officers Hammel, Hughes, Jester, Truesdale, and Ealing arrived moments later. The officers then were able to defeat a security door at the rear of the home, enter the totally engulfed structure and carry to safety the unconscious male and nearly unconscious female. Both victims have made full recoveries.