Above / Thanks to quick action and team effort, Naperville Police officers rescue fleeing man from DuPage River. Remember. Keeping the community safe is everybody’s responsibility.
On Saturday May 27, 2017 at approximately 3:08PM, Naperville Police officers were dispatched to the 800 block of South Washington Street for a report of a potentially intoxicated subject who was walking in traffic.
Upon arrival, officers began searching the area for the subject, ultimately locating him on Edgewater Drive. When the subject saw the responding officers, he ran toward the DuPage River and jumped in.
Due to recent rain, the river was high and the current was moving quickly. Officers called for the subject to get out of the water; however, he continued to go deeper into the river, eventually getting swept up in the current.
Officers Scott Donofrio and Don Porus acted quickly and ran toward the water. A quick thinking neighborhood resident saw the officers and offered them the use of his kayak. Officer Donofrio quickly entered the river in the kayak and was able to catch up to the subject who now had drifted south approaching the Gartner Avenue bridge.
Officer Donofrio was able to grab onto the subject and began pulling him toward the shore. Officer Porus entered the water and aided Officer Donofrio in pulling the subject from the river where Naperville Fire Department Medics began rendering aid.
The subject was ultimately transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Thanks to the quick actions of these two officers, and the awareness of a neighborhood resident, this subject was rescued from the river, likely saving his life.
Story and photo submitted by Commander Tom Kammerer, “A” Dayshift Watch Commander, for Naperville Police Department.
Above / Banners throughout town are reminders that crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility. If you see something suspicious, say something. Help keep this community safe.
