Easton Police Officer Anthony Telesco was on routine patrol at the Helen Keller Middle School on the evening of Dec. 18 at 6:04 p.m. when he was flagged down by a man who reported his dog had fallen through the ice on Keller Pond. Telesco called the Easton Fire Department, requesting an ice rescue. In the interim, the dog’s owner climbed onto the ice to reach his dog and fell through the ice on top of his dog.
Telesco, 32, an Easton police officer for more than two years, waded into the pond in water up to his chest and successfully rescued both the man and the dog. Suffering from cold water exposure, Telesco was taken to Bridgeport Hospital by the Easton Emergency Medical Service. He was later released in good condition.
Both the dog, a golden retriever, and his owner were released at the scene and are both doing fine, according to Easton Police Chief Richard Doyle.
In a joint statement, Doyle and Easton Fire Department Chief Steve Waugh both urged people not to hazard onto ice-covered water to rescue another person, dog or wildlife.
“The Easton Fire Department has numerous firemen who are highly trained in ice rescues. They have cold water gear, specialized equipment and train regularly for these types of situations,” the two chiefs stated.
The Easton Police Department is located at 700 Morehouse Road, Easton, CT 06612, 203-268-4111, EastonCT.gov.
