Because of this cop and firefighter, a New Jersey fisherman is alive: #BlueFriday

New Jersey police officers go above and beyond on a daily basis.

It's a particularly important week to remember that — with five officers dead in Dallas at the hands of a gunman who said he wanted to kill white people as revenge for officer-involved shootings of black people.

I started #BlueFriday to remind people of a simple truth: The vast majority of police officers are dedicated, compassionate, heroic individuals. Every week, I honor one or more who went above and beyond the call of duty. And I never have trouble finding examples of such dedication, right here in New Jersey.

Today, I want to highlight the stories of not just a police officer — South Plainfield Police Lt. David DeLair — but a volunteer fireman, Andrew Kolenski.

They reacted quickly when someone knocked on the door of the South Plainfield Fire Department in May, reporting a man had fallen into nearby Spring Lake.

“A woman was yelling there was a person dead in the lake,” Kolenski told TAPInto South Plainfield. “When I got to the scene the man was unresponsive floating in the water with contusions to his head. It appeared he had fallen from the top of the bridge culvert.”

But Kolenski and DeLair managed to drag him out, and the fisherman survived.

That man is alive today because of two first-responders who followed their training, and who did exactly what was asked of them. I'll be sending both gift baskets.

Know a good nominee for #BlueFriday? Tweet me the details @NJ1015 and @BillSpadea using #BlueFriday, or fill out the form at the bottom of this post.

More from New Jersey 101.5: