Officers Christopher Davis and Christopher Krizka -- who are both from the Grand Crossing District --were responding to a 911 call about a fight when they spotted flames coming from a building in the 7200-block of South Stony Island on the city's South Side around 1 a.m. Witnesses say Davis and Krizka set aside personal safety, knocking on the door of the home and going inside.
"We have a handicapped lady in our building," Julius Riley said. "The police carried her down the stairs."
Julius Riley said the woman police rescued may not have survived without the officers' help. "The police department kicked our doors in. If it wasn't for them our building would have been burned down as well," Riley said.
Firefighters soon arrived so the police kept residents on the street calm and out of the way.
"We had to do our job. That is why I got this job-- to help people, to save lives," Officer Davis said.
"We have to do our job with the police department. We need to keep the area safe. Nobody was injured. The fire department got here quick," Officer Krizka said.
When asked if he'd consider becoming a fireman, Officer Davis joked, "Yeah, they got a good contract."
Ten people were displaced by the fire. Officials have not determined how it started.
"If it wasn't for the Chicago Police Department, there is no telling what would be going on now," Riley said. "Thank you very much. Thank you and God bless."
