Three
rescued inhousefire Four brave policemen saved a man and his two young boys from certain death when they smashed their way into a blazing house.
a safer victoria editorial Chelsea Arnold PHOTOGRAPHY Liz Georges
D
andenong police’s Sergeant Richard Clayton modestly reflects on his brave actions which saved the lives of two young boys held captive in a burning house. "Anyone would do the same thing if they were there. We just wanted to get the kids out. Going into risky situations is part of the job,” he said. But this was no ordinary job.
With the house engulfed in flames, the four policemen ensured the safety of the children and Sljivo. 20
August 2010 POLICELIFE
Police attendance Police were called to attend a Dandenong North house on 11 December, 2008 after receiving reports of a domestic dispute. The victim, Sanela Zlojic, who was now at another address, reported being assaulted by her estranged husband Sadik Sljivo and informed police her two children, Harum, three, and Adam, four, were with their father. When police attended the house they found security shutters on most of the windows. They proceeded down a walkway to the rear of the house where they could smell petrol.
They found Sljivo and spoke to him through a locked security door, but he quickly slammed the door. Attempts to negotiate with him to release the children failed. “We could see a fair bit of smoke billowing from the house,” Sgt Clayton said. Sgt Clayton, Senior Constable Daniel Gathercole, Leading Senior Constable Christian Savage and Constable Jim Cole-Surjan smashed a number of windows to let the smoke escape while calling the CFA and ambulance. The four of them managed to pull a window shutter off its rails and could see Sljivo holding his children. “We could see a lot of flames inside, particularly in the kitchen.” They smashed the window and again demands were made to hand over the children, however, he refused.