HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (Warren County) – Hackettstown police officer Ryan Blankenship received the New Jersey State PBA Lifesaving Award, during the NJ State PBA Valor Awards Ceremony on Nov. 18 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, for an incident that occurred on June 24, 2023.
Officer Blankenship, on June 24, at around 2:27 a.m., responded to assist Independence Township Police Department at a residence on Thomas Drive for a reported structure fire with entrapment, police said.
Upon arrival, the officer observed heavy smoke conditions and active fire on one side of the residence, police said.
A 61-year-old female resident was already assisted out of the residence by Independence Township Police Officer Rafael Ortiz and her 91-year-old mother was still inside the home, police said.
The mother was located inside a bedroom and Officer Blankenship went through the bedroom window and as seen on his body-worn camera, he lifted her off the bed and handed her out the window to Independence Township Fire Department Chief Clyde Snyder and Independence Township Police Sgt. Scott Stocker and Officer Ortiz, police said.
She was then then turned over to the Independence First Aid and Rescue Squad, police said.
