Off-Duty Mansfield Firefighters Honored For Heroism

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MANSFIELD (CBSDFW.COM) - It took only six seconds for Mansfield firefighter Daniel Gaskey to decide he was going to save a life back in June.

"I had the capability and you got to help people when you can," said Gaskey.

Gaskey was waiting in line at the Oasis Food Mart in Midlothian when a man in a mask, armed with a knife pushed past him and attempted to rob the store clerk.

"I don't second guess myself at all doing what I did," said Gaskey.

Using his size, Gaskey bear-hugged the suspect and held him down for police to arrive.

But just weeks prior, his assistant chief Mike Ross also helped break up a robbery. It happened in the parking lot of a Mansfield Best Buy involving two men who were allegedly trying to take a woman's purse.

"That's not really heroism. It's just being in the right place at the right time," said Ross.

But for the community of Mansfield, what both Gaskey and Ross did was a big deal.

The two men got a standing ovation on Monday night at the city council meeting and both received awards for their actions.

Both Gaskey and Ross said they do not want the attention, but only for people to remember the message behind what they did.

"Don't be afraid to be that person that steps in and helps somebody else," said Ross.

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