Recognizing Police Officer Rudy Muller for his courage and heroism.

WHEREAS, On the morning of Thanksgiving Day 2005, Police Officer Rudy Muller, Badge No. 1133 of the Special Investigations Administration, was waiting for coffee at the drive-through window of a doughnut shop, when he saw fire engines pass by, with sirens blaring; and

WHEREAS, Police Officer Muller saw the fire trucks pull into the driveway of the Ephraim Goldstein senior citizens residence, near Bustleton Avenue and Byberry Road; and

WHEREAS, Police Officer Muller, who was off duty, knew that his grandmother, 92 year old Marie Raffa, was a resident of that complex; and

WHEREAS, Police Officer Muller, drove to the scene, ran into the burning six story building, crawled down a smoke-filled hallway, and found his frightened grandmother sitting in the dark; and

WHEREAS, Police Officer Muller picked her up, draped her over his shoulder, ran down three flights of stairs and delivered her to safety; and

WHEREAS, While firefighters battled the blaze and tended to the 300 frightened residents, Police Officer Muller, at the risk of his own life, returned to the burning building several times to rescue five more residents, including a man in a wheel chair; and

WHEREAS, Police Officer Muller's multiple acts of courage, without regard to his own safety, were in the highest traditions of the Philadelphia Police Department; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Police Officer Rudy Muller is honored for his heroic action in saving the lives of six senior citizens during a raging fire; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution is presented to Police Officer Rudy Muller as an expression of recognition, gratitude and sincere appreciation of the legislative body.

End