Manatee deputies honored for actions during nursing home fire

BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - Four Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies who helped evacuate residents of a nursing home during a fire were named Deputies of the Month for December.

In May 2021, deputies and firefighters responded to a possible building fire at a medical facility. Once on scene, the deputies smelled smoke in the air.

Firefighters asked the deputies to assist in evacuating the building while they looked for the source. There were multiple residents on the second and third floors who were unable to walk. Deputies began carrying those residents down the stairs.

After the building was cleared, the deputies, Sgt. Dustin McArthur, Deputy Peter Kosakowski, Det. Garrick Plonczynski and Deputy Dwight Roberts, helped the nursing staff in relocating the residents to another building.