The heroic actions of two Port Arthur Police officers played out in dramatic dash cam video as a hushed crowd watched intently during a Port Arthur City Council meeting on Monday.

The officers, Tomas Barboza and Luis Sanchez, were recognized by city council for their life saving work to save a man from a burning truck on Oct. 21.

Both Barboza and Sanchez were humbled by the recognition.

“I first heard it on my radio and was working an off-duty job. I heard there was an accident and somebody was trapped and the vehicle was possibly on fire,” Barboza said. “I got there as quickly as I could and the truck was on fire. I ran up to it to see if anybody was still trapped. I could hear him (victim) saying his leg was stuck.”

As the truck was blazing Barboza pulled the man, identified as Hector Compain, 27, out to safety.

Sanchez had arrived seconds later and he too is seen in the video footage racing toward the fiery truck. He remembered hearing popping noises as he approached with a fire extinguisher.

“It was so hot it melted the tires,” Sanchez said.

Police Chief Patrick Melvin took to the podium and told of the officers’ selfless actions.

At approximately 12:09 a.m. Oct. 21, there was a call of a major accident in the 2200 block of Jefferson Drive and one vehicle was on fire and one person was trapped inside. The driver had left the road, crashed through a wooden fence and was wedged between two large oak trees, ablaze.

Barboza was the first officer to arrive just three minutes from the initial broadcast over the radio with Sanchez arriving shortly after.

“It should be noted that Barboza was not even scheduled to work patrol during this tour of duty but was in fact working an off-duty assignment at an apartment complex,” Melvin said. “In other words he responded to this call for service on his own accord, and Barboza often assists on patrol when scheduled coverage is exhausted on reported incidents throughout the day.”

The two officers then began to help the injured man who was bleeding from the face and head before being handed over to EMS personnel.

Sgt. S.J. Perron was on scene and chronicled the happenings, which were submitted as a recommendation for a citation. Perron noted that when he arrived the truck’ windows began to explode and heat from the flames began to melt the truck tires. By that time Barboza had some of the victims blood on his arm and black soot was on his face. Sanchez, he said, never looked up when called but instead focused on the welfare of Compain and other occupants.

Two citizens, Sharon Nails and Ricky Jason, gave official statements regarding the officers’ heroic actions.

Both Barboza and Sanchez said they felt honored to be recognized but, as police officers, this type of action is what they are supposed to do.

“I feel honored although it’s not necessarily my cup of tea,” Sanchez, who has been an officer for three years, said. “I’m an employee. I just ask you to keep me in your prayers. That would have been enough.”

Barboza, who has been an officer for almost seven years, said it feels great to be recognized but he doesn’t like to be the center of attention.

Members of the officers’ families were in attendance as well as a large number of fellow officers.