Medal Of Valor: Police Officer Donald Thompson Risks His Own Life To Save Victim From Burning Car

On Christmas Day in 2013, at 2:00 in the afternoon, LAPD Officer Thompson was on his way to work. He was driving on the 405 freeway when he witnessed a northbound vehicle crash into the center divider.

Jumping Into Action

Immediately, the vehicle burst into flames. Officer Thompson stopped his vehicle and ran to assist the driver of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the driver was stuck and unconscious.

According to Los Angeles Councilman Mitchell Englander, "He forced open the badly damaged front door, and after several attempts to release the unconscious driver from his seatbelt, he finally freed the driver and dragged him out of the vehicle."

Thompson, a bomb technician with the LAPD, helped the driver out of the car with the assistance of two good samaritans. However, he did not come out of the incident unscathed. Thompson had second-degree burns on his hands and his face.

Even with his slight injures, Thompson would not change a thing. "If I am physically capable of doing it, I would give it my best."

Just Another Day At Work

After his burn wounds were treated, he headed back on his way to work. He has received much recognition since saving the driver from the burning car. However, Thompson does not consider himself to be a hero.

"Deep down inside I don't really feel as if I'm a hero. I did something to help someone in a time of need."

Officer Thompson

Thompson has been with the Los Angeles Police Department for 30 years.

Honored For His Bravery

In 2016, Officer Thompson was awarded the Medal of Valor for his bravery and courage. He was presented the medal in a ceremony at the White House by President Obama.

Thompson's one statement is something everyone should be able to get behind. At his medal ceremony, he said, "We live in a time where people don't care much about each other, and we need to start caring about each other a bit more."

Thompson still keeps in touch with the driver from the accident to this day, making his words hold that much more weight.

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4 comments on “Medal Of Valor: Police Officer Donald Thompson Risks His Own Life To Save Victim From Burning Car”

  1. Thank you for setting the example to the younger men & women of LAPD. As a retired Law Enforcement Officer the bad press Officers get today makes my blood boil! Then you have idiots like the California Governor that defunds Officers but then he uses them as security. Furthermore Officers are targeted because of the uniform they wear. People just do not understand that Officers are human too!! They have problems of there own that they have to deal with and then they go to work and they have to deal with everybody else’s problems. With that being said Officers are caring loving people that cares not only about there own family but people in the communities as well. Being a Police Officer is not just a job it’s a calling. I personally have paid for hotel rooms, paid for meals, and biggest thing I along with other Officers have done is we replace every Christmas gift a family lost in a house fire including the Christmas tree. We didn’t do it to be on tv or in the newspaper, we did because our hearts were led to do it. Even since I retired I still do whatever I can do to help people. This is just who Law Enforcement Officers are!!

    1. GOD BLESS YOU SIR I have always believed in our law ENFORCEMENT AND THEY DESERVE OUR RESPECT THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL

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