Exceptional acts
of selflessness, compassion and bravery across Cambridgeshire have been
recognised – with praise also going to a celebrity this year.
The Chief Constable’s Commendations and Long Service Ceremony took place at
force headquarters in Hinchingbrooke last night (14 March) with awards going to
those who had gone above and beyond.
This round of awards also shone the spotlight on Channel 4 documentary Famous
and Fighting Crime – with the actions of celebrity Katie Piper and officers in
the last episode of the series commended.
Chief Constable Nick Dean praised everyone who had excelled as he presented the
awards.
He said: “As we present these awards it is overwhelming to read the stories of
outstanding bravery, compassion and kindness towards others in very difficult
circumstances.
“You have stepped up to help someone in need, to put your own lives at risk and
to go above and beyond for the people of Cambridgeshire – and to each and every
one of you, I say thank you.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite added: “One of the most rewarding
parts of my role is meeting members of the public who tell me just how
supportive you have been, especially when people have been in difficult
situations or unpleasant circumstances.
“What you do on a daily basis is outstanding and to be able to recognise and
celebrate your efforts is a real honour.”
Julie Spence, Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, attended the event to present
the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to officers who had served 20
years or more within the force.
Other officers, police staff and members of the public were also commended for
their actions.
TV star Katie Piper, together with Sgt Michael Johnson, PC Danny Cummings, PC
Craig Farrington and PC Nathan Southerland were thanked for their bravery in
the early hours of 23 May last year.
The team of officers, accompanied by Katie during filming for the Channel 4
series, led residents to safety after a block of flats in Peterborough caught
fire.
Small children were carried from the building and elderly residents were helped
to safety by the team, who arrived on scene before the fire service.
More than 50 flats were evacuated. Some officers received treatment for smoke
inhalation, but remained on duty.
PC Chris Cawdery was given the Testimonial on Vellum award after
single-handedly pulling a man from the wreckage of a crash in Peterborough.
He was first on the scene after a car left the A47 and crashed through trees
and a fence in Bretton Fields before catching fire on 1 January, 2016.
The driver was conscious but injured and trapped. PC Cawdery got into the car
through the passenger door and dragged the man to safety – almost certainly
saving his life.
PC Tamsin Nichols, PC Rosie Wilkes and off-duty nurse Shirley Slender received
a Royal Humane Society award for saving the life of a woman who had collapsed
in Elm, Wisbech on 27 May last year.
DC Clemie Yaxley, PC Simon Berrill, Sgt Hayley Carter, PC Kurtis Irving, PC
Anna Pollard and two members of the public were commended for a courageous team
effort that helped save the life of a man in Peterborough.
On the morning of 29 November last year police were called after a man climbed
over the Fletton Parkway bridge near Oxney Road.
The road was closed and DC Yaxley, who was off duty, controlled the man, with
help from members of the public, and held his hand.
Two members of the public also climbed over the barrier to help. One had lost
his mother to suicide just two weeks previously and felt compelled to help in
spite of his fear.
PCs Pollard and Irving were the first on-duty officers on the scene and asked
members of the public to grab whatever they could to secure a makeshift harness
– using rope, dog leads and even telephone wiring.
PC Irving, who had only been on shift for five weeks, leaned over the barrier
to hold the man while Sergeant Carter coordinated a response with limited
resources. After liaising with fire and ambulance, the man was brought back to
safety.
Julio O’Malley, aged just 14, was praised for his bravery after saving the life
of his mum on 25 March, 2018.
Julio was upstairs at his Peterborough home when he heard a commotion
downstairs. He went to investigate and saw a man attacking his mother, who was
covered in blood and begging for her life.
Acting quickly and with outstanding bravery, Julio stamped on the offender’s
head as he lay grappling with his mother on the floor. This allowed Julio and
his mother to escape and call police.
Julio’s mother believes her son’s actions that night saved her life. In October
last year, Jonathan Youthed was jailed for 10 years for GBH with intent, threats
to kill and racially aggravated harassment.
Sergeants Darren Gore and Carl Harris were also praised for saving a woman who
was threatening to drown herself in a lake in Peterborough in December last
year.
PCs Lewis Busby and Harry Howe were praised for their actions to save a man’s
life by holding onto his arms as he dangled from the top of a multi-storey car
park in Peterborough on New Year’s Eve 2018.
To see photos from the night, click
here.
