Okmulgee Police Officer Honored After Rescuing Family From Burning Home

An Okmulgee Police Officer has been awarded the Medal of Valor after he woke up a sleeping family and rescued them - and their baby - from their burning home in October 2015. 

Officer Jeremiah Brant is only one of two officers to ever receive the honor, according to the OPD.

11/16/2016 Related Story: Okmulgee Cop Recognized For Rescuing Person From Being Hit By Train

Brant, a 15-year law enforcement veteran, has served the past four years of his career in Okmulgee, and on October 1, 2015, his instincts kicked into effect when he was on patrol near 13th Street and Severs Avenue a little after 5 a.m. and saw a large cloud of smoke at a home, police said. 

Brant saw that the entire north side of the home was on fire and dispatched more officers and the Okmulgee Fire Department.

While waiting for OFD, Brant began to check the home for occupants and looked in a window on the north side of the home and saw a man, woman and their baby asleep in a room, police said. 

"The occupants were completely unaware the home was on fire and the home was quickly filling with smoke," OPD said. "Officer Brant was able to awake the occupants and gain entry into the home. He assisted in rescuing the occupants he initially saw and while doing so learned more people were asleep upstairs."

Brant reentered the home and located the staircase and made his way to the second floor, despite the significant amount of smoke filling the home, OPD said. 

Brant conducted a brief search of the second floor and woke up the occupants on the second floor but due to the amount of smoke, he had to retreat down the stairs and outside. He then met the occupants from the second floor outside on the rooftop of the first story and with the assistance of other officers who'd arrived on the scene, they were able to rescue the remaining occupants, according to OPD. 

"The bravery, devotion to duty and courage exhibited by Officer Brant was truly remarkable," OPD said. "Officer Brant selflessly put his safety aside by entering the home on two different occasions to rescue the occupants. There would have been a great loss of life had it not been for Officer Brant going above the call of duty. Officer Brant’s heroism and devotion to duty is awarded with the Medal of Valor."

Brant is a 1997 graduate of Okmulgee High School and obtained an associate’s degree in Applied Science from Oklahoma State University-Institute of Technology.