Erie County Deputy Rich Retzlaff responded to a call in February to carry out an eviction order after he and the new owner of the home in question hadn't heard anything from the current occupant.

After all the proper legal paperwork had been filed and served prior, an eviction time was now set.

"So, we could go over there and find out if the house is empty. If the guy just moved out on his own," said Retzlaff.

The deputy texted his team for backup, left the office on the way to his patrol car and then headed off to the house despite not knowing who or what he may be dealing with.

"Make sure nobody's hiding under the beds, or nobody's hiding in the basement," said Retzlaff. "And it is scary because we don't know what's behind the door when we get there, what's going on [or] what state of mind they're in."

Deputy Retzlaff was the first to arrive on scene, followed by two of his colleagues who also had no idea what to expect when they got to the door.

"Going into an unknown house is always scary to say the least," said Tysen Lincoln, sergeant, Erie County Sheriff's Office. "You never know what you're going to encounter or what's going to come at you. So you just got to be on your guard."

When one came to the door, they went to the gate, but it was locked, and the lock had to get cut off.

When they finally got in, thanks to a hidden key in the awning that opened the side door, they found the occupant face down on the kitchen floor.

"He needed medical attention right away," said Retzlaff.

Retzlaff and Lincoln helped the man while deputy Todd Jones called for an ambulance, before getting a first aid kit out of his car.

"[We] returned to the scene and provided first aid to the individual until the paramedics showed up. [We basically saved his life,] I think so," said Deputy Jones.

All three appreciate the recognition for a job they say doesn't usually garner much attention.

"Yes, yes, we did save the individual. We're just doing our job," said Retzlaff. "All these guys. Every day."

"I don't think I'm a hero. This is what we signed up for. This is our job and what we're here to do," said Sergeant Lincoln.

"I don't feel like much of a hero," said Deputy Jones. "I just feel like I'm like every police officer. You raise your right hand, say the oath and you do your job with diligence every day."

And that's why Todd Jones, Tysen Lincoln and Rich Retzlaff are your 2023 Law Enforcement Red Cross Real Heroes.

The sheriff's office tells Spectrum News 1 that they believe the man is physically OK and that the new owner of the house has since moved in.