From left, Margate Police Officer Brendan Campbell, Sgt. Christopher Taroncher and Police Chief Matthew Hankinson.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – Two city police officers were honored Thursday evening for answering a grandmother’s call for angels.
The Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation acknowledging the heroic efforts of Officer Brendan Campbell and Sgt. Christopher Taroncher, who without a second thought for their own safety and in full uniform, including wearing bulletproof vests and gear, entered the rough surf off Wilson Avenue, to save the life of a “sassy” 12-year-old girl and her grandmother who live in the Poconos.
Police Chief Matthew Hankinson reads the letter from Dawn Waters.
Dawn Waters, 58, said in a letter sent to Police Chief Matthew Hankinson that she knows about rip currents and instructed her granddaughter Madelynn McNicholas, to only go in the ocean up to her knees. The waves pulled her out while Waters was taking a video of her romp in the surf. She waved for Madelynn to come back when she “just disappeared,” Waters said.
“She kept her head and thought she needed to get to the jetty and that’s what she did,” Waters said.
A wave then whisked Waters into the tide and she slammed against the jetty. Madelynn’s grandfather was there too, and he went out onto the jetty but could only “watch helplessly while she held on for dear life.”
Waters said two older men ran into the ocean – one stood by her telling her that Madelynn was okay. The other man was unable to reach the youngster.
“I yelled for angels and just then, two showed up in the water with full gear, wearing (their) uniforms,” she said. “My husband said as soon as they entered the water the ocean calmed, and Maddie and I were able to be rescued.”
Members of the Margate Police Department stand in the rear of commission chambers to see their comrades honored for their lifesaving efforts.
Had Waters been at the meeting, she would have thanked the officers for “saving my baby girl.”
“There aren’t enough words to say, ‘Thank you’ to the heroes that saved us,” she said in closing her letter.
“Our officers always do an exceptional job, but they do an even a better job whenever it comes to lifesaving,” Police Chief Hankinson said.
Waters’ letter represents more than the simple words Hankinson included when he wrote up the proclamation, Hankinson said.
Commissioner of Public Safety Cathy Horn, who happened to be on the beach that day, witnessed Margate’s public safety team in action.
“Just to see everyone come together as one…was such a nice feeling. You guys do such an amazing job,” she said.
Mayor Michael Collins said the commissioners became emotional when Hankinson read the woman’s letter.
“We appreciate everything you do for our community, thank you,” he said.
From left, Commissioners Maury Blumberg, Cathy Horn, Brendan Campbell, Chris Taroncher, Chief Matthew Hankinson and Mayor Michael Collins.
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Margate Police rescue 12-year-old girl, grandmother from the angry Atlantic Ocean
