Pelham Manor Police Officer John Luiso received the Westchester County Police Category III, Second Place Police Honor Award for saving a man who jumped into Eastchester Creek.

Luiso, who was a rookie when he made the rescue, was selected from a “very strong” pool of candidates from the county and received the award at the Westchester County Law Enforcement Memorial and Awards Ceremony, said the Village of Pelham Manor in a press release.

On Sept. 1, 202o at 10:30 p.m., Luiso responded to a call and “came upon a distraught individual who had jumped into the Eastchester Creek,” said the release. “Upon seeing this person in great distress in the water, Officer Luiso jumped into the creek, brought the man to a piling where he held on to him for a half hour until the two men were pulled from the water. The actions of Officer Luiso saved this man’s life.”

Luiso told the Pelham Examiner in an interview last October that when he arrived at the Fulton Avenue bridge over the creek, he “saw a man who was struggling to keep himself above water, and he was screaming for help.”

It was “one of those things where your instincts just kick in,” Luiso said. He pulled off his gun belt and plunged into the water, swam into the middle of the river where the man was struggling and assisted him to a handhold. At that point, Luiso had to hold the victim up until the fire department arrived.

“We congratulate Officer Luiso on his award and thank him for his service to our village,” said the Village of Pelham Manor.