Livingston County News
An officer at Groveland Correctional Facility (who lives in Scio) has been recognized with a Valor Award for his actions responding to a fire – and fending off four pit bulls - while on his way to work this spring.
The award is presented by the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, a statewide union representing correction officers.
Ricky Jenison was driving on Route 36 through Arkport when he noticed smoke billowing from a hill on March 2. With more than 30 years’ experience as a volunteer firefighter, Jenison knew what he saw was not normal. As he continued down the road he noticed vehicles stopped in front of the house on the hill. He pulled over, exited his truck and observed multiple children screaming for their mother as they pointed to a vehicle, fully engulfed in flames in front of a garage, according to a narrative in a letter nominating Jenison for the award.
Jenison ran up the driveway, towards the burning vehicle in an attempt to check for occupants. As he approached the vehicle, a small explosion occurred, said the nomination letter from Nate Hunsinger, chief sector steward.
Shortly after the explosion, Jenison was attacked by four pit bulls that bit him numerous times all over his body, including his face, neck, hands, arms and legs. Jenison attempted to fight off the dogs while the homeowner also attempted to assist. The dogs then began attacking the homeowner. The struggled continued until volunteers firefighters arrived and assisted in gaining control of the dogs, the letter said.
Jenison was taken to a hospital where he underwent a two-hour surgery to stop the bleeding. More than 50 stitches were required to close all of the wounds, some of which were more than four inches deep, the letter said.
Jenison spent three days in the hospital before returning home to continue his recovery.
Jenison is still recovering from his injuries, which has caused him to lose feeling in his fingertips. Plastic surgery remains a possibility and Jenison has been meeting with a post-traumatic stress disorder counselor to aid in his recovery as he still has trouble sleeping and suffers from nightmares, the letter said.
Jenison, wrote Hunsinger, “should be commended for his swift actions as they were both heroic and courageous.”
“His willingness to help others in need without hesitation may have a lifelong effect on him physically and mentally,” Hunsinger wrote. “For these reasons … he should be considered for the Valor Award.”
NYSCOBA representatives recently met with Jenison and his wife to present him with the Valor Award, said Al Mothershed, western region business agent for NYSCOBA.
