Police Officers of the Month, April/May 2008

The Shields Of Long Island are proud to name Police Officer Robert Florie of the Third Precinct Nassau County Police Department as our Police Officer of The Month.

Police Officer Florie was performing a night tour when he received a radio notification of a possible house fire. Upon arrival at the location, Officer Florie observed a working house fire with a woman outside screaming that people were trapped inside the house.

Officer Florie observed smoke billowing from the ground floor windows and quickly assessed the situation. He requested additional units to respond to assist him.

Officer Florie didn’t hesitate, he ran towards the front door entering the residence. Upon entry the Officer was met with thick acrid smoke and intense heat. The conditions afforded nearly zero visibility.

He continued into the home and began calling out for victims. The smoke and heat grew in intensity, causing Officer Florie to cautiously make his way through to the interior of the house.

He was successful in locating two people inside the structure, whom he then guided outside to safety via the rear door. Once outside with the victims Officer Florie was advised that a third person was in the basement of the house.

Officer Florie re-entered the now fully engulfed house and found his way down to the basement where he was successful in finding the third victim. Because of the heavy smoke condition Officer Florie was experiencing difficulty breathing which necessitated he receive assistance from responding Officers. The victims he rescued were being escorted away from the house and also receiving care for their injuries.

The Fire Department had arrived and conducted a complete search of the residence that revealed no other inhabitants.

Officer Florie was transported by ambulance to Nassau University Medical Center where he was treated for smoke inhalation and held overnight for observation.

To honor Police Officer Florie’s courageous actions which he undertook to save human lives, knowing that he was exposing himself to a grave risk of imminent serious personal injury through the inhalation of toxic smoke that could of easily rendered him unconscious and unable to escape: The Shields of Long Island are proud to name Police Officer Robert Florie of the Third Precinct, Nassau County Police Department, as our Police Officer of the Month.