Brookfield Officer Recognized for Heroic Rescue

Quick action on the part of Brookfield police officer Jason Fiege helped to prevent serious injury or possible death when he bravely approached a burning vehicle to remove an unconscious accident victim.

Officer Fiege, in his sixth year as a Brookfield police officer, was among the responders dispatched to the scene of an accident on Junction Road in December 2009. The first to arrive, Fiege assessed the scene. A vehicle was stuck in a snow bank, its engine revving and rear wheels spinning. The car was filled with smoke and flames were visible under the hood and passenger compartment. By now, Brookfield Fire Captain Andrew Ellis was at the scene.

Ellis, in his commendation of officer Fiege at the annual American Red Cross awards ceremony, stated they were told that the vehicle was occupied, but could not be sure, due to heavy smoke in the vehicle. Officer Fiege, “without hesitation… approached the burning vehicle and opened the door,” revealing a man, unconscious and with his foot pressed on the accelerator, Ellis said.

Officer Fiege reached into the vehicle, turned off the engine, unbuckled the driver and removed him from the vehicle with assistance from Captain Ellis. Fiege then began to treat the victim until EMS personnel were able to take over.

“In my opinion, had it not been for the swift and courageous actions of Officer Jason Fiege, the victim may have been gravely injured,” Ellis said. “At any time the vehicle could have lurched forward or the fire intensified.”

Officer Fiege said he would not hesitate to act again in the same way.

“I was doing my duty as a police officer to save that person,” he said. “I did not think about it, I just did it.”

For his actions, Fiege also received the Medal for Bravery from the at a .