By Keith Inman

JONESBORO — Seven Jonesboro police officers were honored Tuesday night by the City Council for heroic efforts to save residents of a retirement home that was destroyed by fire on Oct. 21.

One person died in the blaze at Rosehaven Retirement Home, 1400 Stone St., but 24 survived.

Alderman Chris Moore, chairman of the council’s Public Safety Committee, and Police Chief Mike Yates presented the Award of Valor to officers Jo Carol Carter, Gary Jackson and Ben Runnels “for their selfless acts of outstanding heroism in the line of duty, at the risk of life or personal injury, and demonstration of courage and devotion to duty.”

Life Saving Award

The Life Saving Award was presented to officers Joe Robinson, Lane Holmes, Billy Anderson and Brad Hill “for their acts of courage and devotion to duty in assisting the residents of Rosehaven escape a burning building.”

Carter, Jackson and Runnels were the first officers to arrive at the fire and were told there were still residents inside the burning structure, Moore said.

“These three officers entered the burning building not just once, but twice and were able to locate a total of five residents still inside,” Moore said.

They helped those residents out of the building, where Robinson, Holmes, Anderson and Hill were waiting to take them to safety.

“Officers were finally forced away from the structure due to the smoke and intense heat but were able to tell the arriving firefighters which areas of the building had already been checked,” he said.

Officers Carter, Jackson and Runnels had to go to a local hospital following the incident for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Jackson and Anderson were unable to attend Tuesday’s ceremony because of courtroom duty.

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