Two Pocatello officers honored for saving teen

In Pocatello, two officers have received a lifesaving medal, for saving a teenage boy from an explosive fire in July.

With a blaze raging in the home causing oxygen tanks to explode and fuel the fire Joseph Maher was trapped, and in his mind, going through the window was the only way out.

“I remember I hit the window and it cut me. And I couldn’t really feel much, but it hurt pretty bad,” Joseph said.

The broken glass tore into him, leaving deep wounds in his right arm.

That’s about when officers Steven Westfall and Sydney Seamons arrived on the scene.

“I ran over there and there was a young kid that was bleeding really bad out of his arm. There was a lot of blood, it was pretty shocking,” Westfall said.

Using a tourniquet and Israeli bandage the officers were able to stem the flow of blood and buy Joseph enough time to get to the hospital and into surgery.

Because of that the two men had lifesaving medals pinned to their chests on Tuesday.

Officer Westfall said the experience helps remind him of why he chose to become a cop.

“There’s a lot of negative aspects to this job. At times we deal with people when they’re having bad days. And things like this make you appreciate the ability to be in this job,” Westfall said.

And in a typically teenage, understated way, 15-year-old Joseph said what he thinks of the men who helped save his life.

“I think they’re pretty cool. I think they’re pretty nice and stuff like that,” Joseph said.