Baltimore Police Officers' Actions on I-83 Honored

A group of six officers were honored at City Hall for their actions Friday after a city tow truck driver was knocked 25 feet off an elevated portion of Interstate 83 to a patch of grass surrounded by the Jones Falls.

The officers climbed down the side of the highway and waded through rushing waste high water to reach the driver, Derek Dunn, and stabilize him until paramedics arrived.

"At that point we took off our vests and gun belts off, and secured those, and made entry into the water, and I got over to him along with these officers and basically just pulled him up into the grassy area, and then the cavalry showed up," K-9 Officer Scott Reid said.   

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake thanked each officer during a news conference at City Hall on Wednesday.

"I am grateful, and we are grateful, for your quick thinking and for your bravery," Rawlings-Blake said.

Police Commissioner Anthony Batts also praised the officers, but said they show courage doing their jobs every day.

"Without hesitation my guys go into very dangerous scenes day after day, night after night and we’re not always on the front page." Batts said. 

K-9 Officer Paul Sinchak, Patrol Officer Carlos Arias, Patrol Officer Jonathan Boyer, Patrol Officer Robert Persico and Patrol Officer Ryan Magnuson were also honored for their actions.