Columbus police officer honored after he helped family get out of apartment fire alive

A Columbus police officer was celebrated Thursday after he saved multiple people from an apartment fire in Columbus.

Officer Tim Millheiser was named Piedmont Columbus Regional’s January First Friday Hero after he was the first officer to respond to a December apartment fire on Ticknor Drive, Piedmont said in a news release.

Millheiser saw a woman hanging from a window crying for help, according to Piedmont.

Body camera footage from the incident shows Millheiser go into the smoking and burning building to try to help the people still inside.

After Millheiser reached the apartment, a person can be heard on his body camera video asking for help to get their grandmother out of the apartment.

Body camera footage from another officer shows Millheiser leading the people down the stairway while carrying one person.

“His swift and decisive actions — putting his life at risk to save others — were instrumental in preventing a tragic outcome, and are a testament to his outstanding character and commitment to public service,” Piedmont said in a news release.

In a ceremony held Thursday morning, Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis told Millheiser he appreciated what he did.

“People like you make us look good,” Mathis said.

Millheiser spoke with reporters following the ceremony.

“When I saw the woman hanging out the window I wasn’t going to be sitting back just waiting for the fire department. I wanted to make something happen, to do something to get them out,” Millheiser said.

The former Army sergeant said it means a lot to receive recognition for his efforts but weird as well.

“I really don’t like to be the face of things,” he said.

When asked what about his training as an officer helped him, Millheiser said officers see a lot of different things on calls.

“Your adrenaline is your biggest supporter when you have that kind of call,” Millheiser said.

Millheiser said his family in New York and New Jersey thought he was crazy the first time they saw the body camera footage.

“They know me at the same time, so, they know I don’t think sometimes, and I just do,” he said.

Millheiser said he’s originally from Staten Island, New York, and the New Jersey area. He went into law enforcement after getting out of the Army.

Millheiser said his brother-in-laws are cops and they always talked about brotherhood in being a police officer.

“I just wanted to have a brotherhood to go to once I got out of the military,” he said.

“I’m lucky to be honored to do what I do and help people at their time of need,” Millheiser told reporters.

Mike Brown, director of public safety for Piedmont Columbus Regional, said the First Friday Hero award is a priority for them.

“It very regularly is extremely difficult to choose one,” Brown said. “Sometimes, they stand out like this, and sometimes you feel like you’re doing a disservice to the person who didn’t get it by picking the one who did.”