Elkhart Police officer receives two commendations

ELKHART, Ind. -- An Elkhart Police officer received two department commendations for her bravery during the Police Merit Commission meeting on Monday.

Officer Emily Lamkin risked her own life to get tenants out of an apartment building that was on fire and helped save another life, too.

"It's instinct. It's not something you really think about," Lamkin said.

On March 28, Lamkin was the first officer on scene at the Town and Country Apartments on Georgia Boulevard.

"The apartment was clearly on fire and speeding toward the other apartments," Lamkin said.

It was nearly midnight when the fire broke out and tenants of one apartment may have been asleep.

"There were two or three people in that apartment so I got them out before fire arrived," Lamkin said.

Lamkin also performed CPR on an unconscious person at the Super 8 Motel off Cassopolis Street.

"Our officers are dedicated to making Elkhart a safer place, a better place to live, work and enjoy and this is just one of those examples of what she did to make that happen," Police Chief Chris Snyder said.

Officer Lamkin was one of eight officers hired in 2018.