Bradenton officer to receive Medal of Valor for fire actions

Bradenton Police Officer Justin Gause removed two people from a burning building.

BRADENTON – An officer's actions helped prevent more damage to a house that was being set on fire, and saved two lives, the Bradenton Police Department said in a press release.

The officer, Justin Gause, will receive the Medal of Valor, the department said, for his actions on Jan. 22. He was dispatched in response to a frantic 911 call from a neighbor reporting a structure fire in the 1400 block of 17th Street Circle East. The caller said a man was in the garage and pouring liquid on the fire.

Gause arrived at the scene, entered the burning garage and removed the man. Other officers secured the man while Gause continued to investigate and found a woman in the front bedroom of the house, which was filled with smoke.

Gause tried to help the woman leave the house, but she refused, so Gause physically removed her from the house and pulled her to safety. It was later determined that Gause saved her life, and that the man intentionally set the fire, the department said.

Bradenton Fire Department personnel were able to put out the fire and save the house from being a total loss.

Gause has served with the Bradenton Police Department since 2002.