Eight Sikeston public safety officers honored for saving man from house fire

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

SIKESTON, Mo., (KBSI) — Eight Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers received Life Safety Awards on Monday for rescuing a man from a burning home earlier this year.

The officers were recognized with plaques during the Sikeston City Council meeting.

Firefighters responded Jan. 27 to a house fire at 627 E. Gladys St. During the fire, crews found Russell Bean inside the home and rescued him.

“I just laid down and made my peace with the Lord and knew that today was the day I was leaving this world,” Bean said. “Then they came in and got me.”

Those honored were field training officers Chris Cooper and Jackie Hays; Sgts. Jordan Cliff and James Whitley; public safety officers Joseph Kinsey, Bailey Cochran and Vance Terrell; and Capt. Jon Broom. Cochran now serves with the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office.

“What they did was extraordinary, and the timing and their urgency saved Mr. Bean’s life,” Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director James McMillen said.