Police to Honor Neighbor who Rescued Woman in Waukesha Pit Bull Attack

A 39-year-old Waukesha man who risked his personal safety to aid 52-year-old Patricia Williams, will receive the highest award the Waukesha Police Department gives to citizens.

Already by Waukesha Police Capt. Dennis Angle, Christopher Bartosz is the second person to receive the Citizens Service Award from the police department this year. Bartosz was also bitten by the male pit bull who attacked in the normally quiet residential neighborhood.

“You just jump into action,” said Bartosz when asked “Doing nothing is not an option. I’d do it again if I saw somebody hurt.”

The award will be presented to Bartosz at 7:30 p.m.  Aug. 4 during the Waukesha Common Council meeting.

Waukesha Police Chief Russell Jack sent Bartosz this letter late last week to inform him that he would receive the award from the Waukesha Police Department:

On June 28, 2011, you witnessed your neighbor lying on the ground being viciously attacked by her own dogs. You quickly reacted without regard for your own safety and ran to the women’s aid. You attempted to fight off the dogs but were bitten several times in the arm and leg. This created a distraction, which allowed your neighbor time to escape back into her house ending the attack.

Your decision to react quickly and effectively during this horrible attack is credited with saving your neighbor’s life. Because of your actions that day, you are being presented with the City of Waukesha Police Department’s Citizen Service Award, the highest award given by this department to members of the community.  

Waukesha Police Sgt. Kevin Rice said in an e-mail that this is the second Citizens Service Award that has been given to a community member since at least 2008.

Sherri Stigler, who is the training and operations manager for Waukesha County Communication and wife of retiring Deputy Police Chief Mark Stigler, in June for beginning life-saving CPR on a veteran w in Cutler Park.

The veteran, Dale Bock, survived the heart failure following Sherri Stigler’s CPR, eand bypass surgery.