PACOIMA (CNS) - Three Los Angeles Police Department officers were honored today by the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum for rescuing a trapped pilot whose single-engine plane crash-landed on train tracks adjacent to Whiteman Airport in Pacoima in January -- a rescue executed just moments before a Metrolink passenger train slammed into the aircraft.
LAPD officers Christopher Aboyte, Damian Castro and Robert Sherock --all from the department's Foothill Patrol Division -- were named Officers of the Month for January by the organization, a nonprofit that maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
``We would like to congratulate Officers Aboyte, Castro and Sherock for their heroism and timely instincts to save the life of the pilot injured in the crash,'' said Marcia Ferranto, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
``Their decisiveness in the face of danger serves as an inspiration for all and we are deeply honored to present them with this award.''
Aboyte is a seven-year veteran of the LAPD, while Castro has been on the force for four years and Sherock 10 years.
On Jan. 9, the three responded when a Cessna 172 with only the pilot on board crash-landed around 2 p.m.
The plane went down near Osborne Street and San Fernando Road and was partially in the path of the oncoming train, which reportedly hit the aircraft's tail section while going at full speed.
No one on the ground was injured, nor was anybody aboard the train.
The pilot was taken to a trauma center by LAFD paramedics to be treated.