RCMP Hand Out Awards To North District Recipients
By 250 News
Tuesday, June 02, 2009 01:52 PM
Medals, pins, and special certificates of commendation or appreciation are laid out, waiting to be handed to the proud recipients.
Prince George, B.C.- RCMP Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass was in Prince George today to personally deliver long service medals and pins, as well as hand out special commendations.
Among those to receive recognition was Gilbert Jimmie . ( in photo at right, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass shakes hands with Gilbert Jimmie)
Mr. Jimmie was given a Certificate of Appreciation for his role in saving the life of a suicidal woman. In April of 2006, two RCMP Constables spotted Mr. Jimmie sitting beside a woman on the Quesnel River Bridge. The woman was distraught, and Mr. Jimmie was trying to talk her out of taking her own life. The Constables (in plain clothes) walked over to the two, and while one spoke with the woman, the other held her wrist. The woman threw herself off the bridge, but the Constable, Luiz Sardinha, held on. With the help of the other constable, and Mr. Jimmie, the woman was lifted to safety.
Gilbert Jimmie was the only Civilian to receive an award for his efforts to save a life.
Several other life saving stories were told, and recognized with either a Certificate of Appreciationm or a Commanding Officers Commendation.
Cst. Kent MacInnis: Certificate of Appreciation for saving a man from drowning in the spring of 2006.
Constable Steve Richards and Constable Steven Vince ; Certificate of Appreciation. The two spotted smoke coming from the attic of a duplex in Prince Rupert. They roused four residents of the home from their sleep and got them to safety.
Constables Tom Beck and Constable Christopher Brown: Commanding Officer’s Commendation. The two , on duty in Prince George, spotted two armed robbery suspects and gave chase. One officer stared down the barrel of a shotgun as the suspect turned and threatened to fire it at the officer. Eventually, the suspects got into a get away vehicle which the two officers tried to block with their police cruiser. There was a pursuit, which came to an end and the officers arrested three of four suspects at the scene.
( at left, members take their places before being given their awards.)
Corporal Paul Collister, Constable Calvin Sanheim and Auxiliary Constable James Shook : Commanding Officers Commendation. The three came upon a vehicle crash scene near Vanderhoof where the engine was on fire and the driver was trapped in the vehicle. The officers tried to get the doors open to free the driver but the doors wouldn’t budge. Constable Sanheim broke the window, cut the seatbelt, and pulled the driver out to safety.
And then there was Constable Matthew Turner. He too was given a Commanding Officer’s Commendation. Constable Turner responded to a call about two men in a knife fight in Dawson Creek. Turns out, one man was actually trying to get the knife away from the other who was suicidal. The distraught man took off running, and Constable Turner called in the Police Service dog and his handler to help track the man. The chase took them through swamp and waist deep freezing water. The man was eventually located, he had slit his own throat. Constable Turner took off his own shirt and used it as a pressure bandage on the wound. As others went for help, Constable Turner brought the man out of the swamp, at times carrying him, to safe ground.
Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass offered words of praise for all, through their acts and their long service. He also offered thanks to the families and spouses of the officers, thanking them for their support.
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Posted by: Buzz on June 2 2009 4:04 PM