Heroes like Officer Russell Dorsey don’t wear capes or have super powers, but they do make a difference in our community every day.

And they need to be recognized every day for what they do.

Dorsey, a 10-year veteran of the Vicksburg Police Department, set aside his own safety to rescue a man earlier this week from his burning home.

Dorsey was first on the scene when the call went out of the blaze on Howard Street where the flames had trapped Revell Howard in the home.

“When I arrived, there was smoke and flames coming out of the house, and the neighbors said the occupant of the home was still inside,” Dorsey told The Vicksburg Post reporter John Surratt.

Finding the screen door to the home locked, Dorsey found a hatchet and forced the door open. He went in the front door, which was unlocked, and saw Howard standing in the front room about 5 yards from the doorway. Dorsey grabbed him and attempted to pull him out, but lost his grip and had to go back in the house.

When he went back in the house, Dorsey said, “I couldn’t see him for the smoke, then I saw his shoulder. He was trapped behind a chair. I grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him over the chair.”

Dorsey managed to get Howard out of the house and on its porch, when officers Brad Lyons and Sammie Pruitt arrived. The officers helped Dorsey get Howard across the street and away from the blaze. He said Howard appeared to have trouble walking after he got him out.

When firefighters arrived, Vicksburg Fire Chief Craig Danczyk said, they found Howard was already out of the home and being helped by police officers. He said fire department paramedics treated him at the scene for smoke inhalation.

It’s unfortunate that Howard’s home was damaged by the fire, but this could have been a much more tragic story if not for the heroic actions of Officer Dorsey.

We hope the community will stand with us in applauding him and we hope you thank him and his fellow officers in uniform for what they do for us each day.