HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – Three Morristown Police officers have been honored for their actions during a fire several months ago.

It happened around 4:00 a.m. on the morning of March 20th when flames tore through a duplex on Houston Street.

Officers Eric Renfro, Brian Rinehart and Carla Parker were among the first three members of the police department on the scene. They soon found out Joyce Cogdell, 72 had escaped to safety but Gary Ridley, 58 was still trapped inside.

Renfro and Rinehart made several attempts to free Ridley, and finally were able to get him out with the help of fire crews. He was quickly airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center and then to the Vanderbilt Medical Center Burn Unit in Nashville. Cogdell was treated at Morristown-Hamblen County Hospital for smoke inhalation.

Parker sealed off the building while both officers were trying to get to Ridley. She also kept the building lit so Renfro and Rinehart didn’t become disoriented during the rescue.

“All of our employees do an exceptional job,” stated Major Gary Lowe in a department news release. “These particular officers have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and for their efforts have been recognized. I am honored to work alongside them.”

On Monday, all three were honored by the department for their “outstanding service to the community and the department.”

Officers Renfro and Rinehart were awarded MPD’s Medal of Honor for distinguishing themselves “while on duty, through an act of courage and bravery which involved the risk of serious personal injury and/or death to rescue a citizen from a burning residence.”

Officer Parker was awarded the MPD Meritorious Service Medal for “disguising herself through an act of courage and bravery by putting her personal safety aside for the good of the public and fellow officers.”

Several other officers were also honored. They included Capt. David Beckner, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for his work as commander of the MPD Explosive Ordnance Device team, Sgt. Chris Hall who was awarded the Superior Service Award for his recommendation to change the City Court arraignment scheduling system and Officer Matt Stuart who was awarded the Superior Service Award for coordinating and supervising the Criminal Apprehension Unit while remaining a patrol officer. Chief Roger Overholt was also awarded the Superior Service Award for his continued service to the department, community and his employees.

“It is an honor to recognize these officers and be recognized by the personnel of our Department,” said Chief Overholt in a statement released by the department. “The level of dedication and commitment displayed by these officers is an illustration of the type of people working at the Morristown Police Department.”

Each officer who was given an award was nominated by a supervisor. Members of the MPD Awards Committee then had to vote on each nomination.