Burlington police officer saves second life in three months

March 22--For the second time in three months, a Burlington police officer is being credited with saving a person's life.

A Burlington police spokesman said Officer Chris Chiprez prevented a 67-year-old man from hanging himself about 2:30 a.m. Friday in Dankwardt Park. On New Year's Day, Chiprez was credited with saving another man's life when he rescued him from a burning apartment building in Burlington.

Major Darren Grimshaw, a Burlington police spokesman, said Friday the department is "extremely proud" of Chiprez.

"Obviously, we think it is an awesome situation," said Grimshaw, speaking on behalf of Police Chief Doug Beaird who was traveling. "Anytime an officer can save the life of somebody who is in a stressful situation, it's a great thing. It shows that Officer Chiprez was aware of his surroundings, and his actions saved a man's life."

According to Sgt. Chad Zahn, the incident Friday began about 2:30 a.m. when Chiprez, who regularly works the night shift, was on routine patrol when he drove through Dankwardt Park.

"He observed a truck parked by a tree, just west of the skate park," Zahn said. "As he got closer, he observed a male standing in the back of the (bed of the truck). The man was attaching a rope to a tree directly above him."

Zahn said Chiprez approached the man and attempted to talk with him.

"While he was trying to talk to him, the gentleman jumped from the truck with the rope attached to his neck," Zahn said. "Officer Chiprez was able to hold the man up (in the air) at the same time he cut the rope and relieved pressure from the man's neck."

Zahn said Chiprez then requested emergency personnel respond to the scene.

The man, who police declined to identify, was transported to Great River Medical Center</org> for treatment. Under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), the name and condition of the man was not released. However, authorities said the man's injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

Like Grimshaw, Zahn said Chiprez's actions are an outstanding example of an officer who was actively patrolling the city and, because of that, was able to save the man's life.

"We are very proud of Officer Chiprez," Zahn said. "Officer Chiprez was at the right place at the right time, and a man's life was saved as a result of the officer's actions."

In the early morning hours of New Year's Day, Chiprez was credited with pulling a man from a basement apartment as fire raged throughout the two-story building.

One tenant, Spencer Larson, wrote a letter to The Hawk Eye earlier this year crediting Chiprez with saving his life.

"It it were not for Officer Chiprez, I would have been deceased in one more minute due to smoke inhalation," Larson wrote. "This officer then pulled me out the (basement) window to safety."

Christina Rice, 43, is accused of first-degree arson for setting fire to the apartment building at 1115 Vine St. She remains in the Des Moines County jail in lieu of a $250,000 bond. Four tenants and two firefighters were taken to Great River Medical Center in West Burlington for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries relating to the fire.

Chiprez, who got off duty at 7 a.m. Friday, was not available for comment.

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