NAACP honors two Park City Police officers for their heroic actions

Two members of the Park City Police Department were recognized by the NAACP Salt Lake Branch at their annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day Luncheon. Photo: Park City Municipal

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City Police Department Officer Jim Foust and Sergeant Zach Nakaishi both received the First Responders Award from the NAACP Salt Lake Branch earlier this month, which recognizes local first responders for the work they do to protect and serve the public. The two led a rescue during an apartment fire in November.

A press release from Park City describes the scene:

On November 21, 2021, Officer Foust and Sergeant Nakaishi were dispatched to an apartment complex on the report of a multi-family structure fire. Before the Fire Department’s arrival, Officer Foust arrived on the scene. Officer Foust entered the unit as the resident was packing bags in her living room.

The flames began spreading up the walls, from the floor to the apartment’s ceiling. Officer Foust quickly realized that his fire extinguisher wouldn’t put the fire out, so he decided to evacuate the resident and her dogs as quickly as possible. By this time, Sergeant Nakaishi had arrived on the scene.  

Once Officer Foust and Sergeant Nakaishi began knocking on doors of the other units at the rest of the complex. While they were doing this, the evacuated resident re-entered her apartment to try and save her cat. Sergeant Nakaishi saw that she was reentering the apartment and ran after her. Sgt. Nakaishi was able to grab both the adult female and her cat quickly to safety.

Officer Foust’s and Sergeant Nakaishi’s actions saved that day saved her and potentially many of the other building occupants.

Thank you to our brave officers who work every day to keep our community safe.