Officer Gets 2nd Chance to Be Hero, Saves Two Lives

Haunted by his inability to save a drowning teen-ager two years earlier, Mike Grasso did not think twice before risking his life by diving into the swift Pacoima Wash this week when he saw 7-year-old Jordan Bastasin being washed away.

It was almost his last heroic act.

After being carried for three miles by the swift current, clutching Jordan and an unidentified would-be rescuer who also was swept away, the lifeguard-turned-Los Angeles police officer made a desperate, successful grab for a concrete abutment.

One of the first things Grasso, 37, said when he was pulled out was, “How’s the boy?”

“There was no way this boy was going to die,” said Grasso, one of many officers who had futilely tried to save 14-year-old Adam Bischoff from the flood-swollen Los Angeles River three years ago. Adam was much on his mind during Tuesday’s 40-minute ordeal.

In February of 1992, Adam, of Woodland Hills, rode his bicycle into the rain-swollen Arroyo Calabasas and was swept into the river. He disappeared beneath the debris-filled water before he reached Grasso.

In Tuesday’s incident, Grasso had gotten off work at the Police Academy, where he works as an instructor, and was going out for the evening with his brother when he spotted two shapes in the Pacoima Wash about 6:30 p.m.

Authorities said Jordan had been playing near the wash by his home in Sylmar when a friend pushed him in as a prank.

He hurtled past an unidentified 20-year-old pedestrian who reached over the embankment to pull Jordan out, but was himself pulled into the wash.

Risking his own life, Grasso grabbed Jordan and the 20-year-old--who gasped that he couldn’t swim--and all were swept away.

Although the water was less than hip-deep, Grasso said he was surprised how difficult it was to get a foothold on the smooth concrete channel, which was slick with algae.

Holding on to his charges, Grasso threw himself at a concrete divider that split the channel. It took every ounce of strength to keep from being swept away during the 20 minutes they waited for help to arrive.

A helicopter lifted the three out of the channel. Grasso and Jordan were so weakened that they could not stand, and were rushed to Holy Cross hospital in Mission Hills. Both were released that night. The other man walked away from his ordeal.

A police spokesman said Grasso is likely to receive a medal of valor.

“Yesterday was why I joined, and why I’ve stayed,” Grasso said Wednesday.