[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 18 (Friday, February 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E129-E130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE HEROIC ACTIONS OF OFFICERS LAUREN KEILITZ AND MICHAEL 
                                DIBLASI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JON RUNYAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 3, 2012

  Mr. RUNYAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic and 
selfless actions of Officer Lauren Keilitz and Officer Michael Diblasi 
of the Barnegat Township Police Department in New Jersey's Third 
Congressional District.
  At 8:44 p.m. on January 30, 2012, the Barnegat Township Police 
Department was dispatched to a reported car fire on Biscayne Road. 
Officers Keilitz and Diblasi responded and arrived to find a single 
motor vehicle fully engulfed in flames.
  Shortly after arriving on scene, Officers Keilitz and Diblasi 
determined that the driver of the vehicle, Mario Dischiavi, was 
incapacitated in the driver's seat. Dischiavi was discovered by Officer 
Keilitz who was able to open the rear passenger door of the vehicle and 
observe Dischiavi through the thick smoke in the passenger compartment.
  Officer Diblasi attempted to open the driver's door and could not get 
the latch to release, at which time he ran to retrieve a window punch 
from his patrol car in order to break the window and gain access.
  Officer Keilitz, despite overwhelming heat and flames, was able to 
get the driver's door open and pull Dischiavi from the vehicle and drag 
him out of harm's way.
  If it were not for the brave actions of these officers, the 
successful outcome surely would

[[Page E130]]

have been different. Their choice to go above and beyond the call of 
duty, subjecting themselves to harm, to help a citizen in distress is 
the exemplary action that deserves this chamber's praise.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring the 
heroic and courageous actions of Officers Lauren Keilitz and Michael 
Diblasi in their extraordinary lifesaving efforts.

                          ____________________