Three Ansonia police officers will receive the Medal of Valor from the New England Police Chiefs’ Association this month.
Officers Edward Magera, Bernard Oksenberg and Phillip Landona will be recognized at a banquet on Sept. 14 for their work rescuing an elderly woman from a fire on Fifth Street last October.
There were two people in the home at the time — Rufus McMichael, 84, and his wife, Laura, 81.
Rufus McMichael died in the fire.
But the officers and volunteer firefighters risked their lives to get his wife out of the building alive.
Laura McMichael was confined to a wheelchair and couldn’t get out of the house by herself. She later died.
“These officers acted without hesitation and in a highly stressful situation,” wrote Col. Ronald E. DeSilva, the chief of police in Coventry, Rhode Island, on behalf of the New England Police Chief’s Association.
Police Chief Kevin Hale nominated the officers for the award.
The officer will be honored at the New England Police Chiefs’ Installation Banquet in South Burlington, Vermont.
They have already been honored by the Ansonia Police Department for the rescue.
