Fall River Police officers honored by Boston Celtics as “Heroes Among Us”

Officers Garrett Nelson and Guy Furtado of the Fall River Police Department were recognized as Heroes Among Us at the Boston Celtics home game against the Washington Wizards on Sunday in recognition of their quick thinking and lifesaving response.

On January 28, 2024, Furtado and Nelson were enjoying a relaxing day off on the slopes at Okemo Mountain Resort. After their group decided to call it quits and head into the ski lodge, the two off duty police officers decided to take one final run on the slopes. It turned out to be a run they will never forget.

As they made their way down the black diamond trail, they encountered something unexpected. 45-year-old William Polzun Jr. of Manchester, CT was frantically screaming for help. As it turned out, Polzun’s son, 20-year-old Nathan, collapsed while making what was also their last run of the day. After hearing Polzun Jr.’s screams for help, Officers Furtado and Nelson quickly made their way over to assess the situation. Finding Nathan unresponsive with no pulse, Officer Nelson quickly called 911 to alert the ski patrol as Officer Furtado began life saving CPR. Due to their actions, Polzun is on the road to recovery.

Since its establishment in 1997 by the Boston Celtics, the Heroes Among Us program has recognized outstanding individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to their communities. The award is presented at every Celtics home game and pays tribute to the heroic achievements of these outstanding citizens.