‘A true image of who he is’: Wife of former Grand Island officer reacts to viral photo

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Wildfires in Southern California continue to roar, and lives are at risk.

But a brave few are stepping up to the literal line of fire.

Officer Chrystian Banuelos was photographed by the New York Times as he carried a man to safety, a moment that was shared with hundreds of thousands across the country.

“He had talked to me on the phone and said, ‘I just carried someone out of their home, New York Times may have captured a photo,'” Banuelos’ wife, Ashleigh said. “He didn’t really have strong emotions at the time because he was finally getting home from such a tragic night.”

For the former Grand Island police officer, who is now serving in the Pasadena Police Department, saving lives is nothing new.

“He shares that it’s a war zone; it looks like a war zone,” Ashleigh said. “He doesn’t really have the time right now to be emotionally attached because he has jobs to do.”

It wasn’t easy for Officer Banuelos to move to California.

But his wife said he always had one goal in mind: to serve his country.

“He’s a DC comic fan and if you know Chrystian, he has instilled in his heart that being a hero is something he admires,” she said. “This is only bringing to light what he always wanted to stand for.”

Ashleigh said if you know her husband, you would know that’s just the kind of person he is.

“That’s just a true image of who he is,” she said. “But what he would say is that his job is a team effort and he gives praise to fellow officers, fellow administrators from Nebraska who molded him to become the officer he is today.”

Grand Island Police Chief Kevin Denney knows Officer Banuelos well.

“I could not be more proud of one of our former officers, Chrystian Banuelos,” he said. “Helping out on the front lines, saving lives and doing the job that police officers and firefighters around the country do every day.”

He said Banuelos is living proof that the training Grand Island police officers get will provide a strong foundation no matter where they go.

Officer Banuelos said this is what he signed up for and it’s what he wants to do for the country.

His wife said not to be afraid to say hello to your first responders because at the end of the day, they are people, too.