One person pulled an elderly man from a burning vehicle, another saved his girlfriend from the clutches of an attacker and another fought off a violent rapist.
These former or current MSU students were honored alongside police officers Thursday night at the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbott Road, during the East Lansing Police Department's annual awards ceremony.
Josh Burda, a physiology senior, was honored for pulling a man in his 70s from a car that exploded no more than 10 seconds after saving him, he said.
"I was just driving and saw there was a guy pulled over, an old man, and I swear that there was a little bit of smoke inside the car. He said everything was fine," Burda said.
Apparently, the man didn't want Burda's help, citing that his books and bag were in the car.
"I saw that there was a flame in the radiator, and I just opened the door and pulled the guy out of the car," he said. "We were about 20 feet away from the car and it explodes. There were balls of flames coming out of this car, the tires were melting."
Burda said he didn't expect an award, but feels honored to receive it.
"I would think it's something anybody else would do for another human being," he said. "I don't think I did anything heroic."
East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert presented Burda with his award and acknowledged his selfless act.
"Without the regard to your own safety, you came to the aid of that man," Wibert said at the crowded awards ceremony.
Although civilians are honored during the ceremony, the department's police officers are those primarily celebrated, East Lansing police Capt. Kim Johnson said.
"We try to recognize those who go above the call of duty," Johnson said. "We recognize the work that was a little bit more of what was expected of them."
The awards ceremony has been celebrated for at least 25 years, Johnson said. A special committee made of police officers' peers chose the recipients of the awards. Among the civilian recipients is a woman who fought off a rapist, said Jan Rohn, who helped organize the event.
"I don't know how to put it into words. It was an attempted rape, and she fought this man so hard and she was just so smart about everything," Rohn said. "She just tried to scream and make as much noise as she could. She did an amazing job and she got pretty messed up."
A variety of awards were dispersed throughout the night, from certificates to medals, Johnson said. Each winner received a framed letter along with the award, he added.
