Western Region OPP honoured many of its officers, as well as civilians, for acts of bravery and service at a ceremony here on Oct. 17.
Hosted by Wellington County OPP, the ceremony included touching stories about people who, in some cases, put their own lives on the line to help others.
OPP commissioner Chris Lewis said the awards and citations are an opportunity for police to recognize the courageous acts of civilians and officers. He also recognized the county’s recent national designation as the safest community in Canada.
“Western region is fortunate to have dedicated people, officers and civilians,” the commissioner said. “The safest community… is something we and the county are very proud of.”
Lewis acknowledged the work of both individuals and police.
“I’m proud of how well we help people,” he added. “We couldn’t have done it without these partnerships. Some show great courage and bravery and some disregarded their own safety.”
Among those honoured were constables Christopher Seguin and Melissa Tutin, who received a St. John Ambulance award and commissioner’s letter of commendation, and civilian Kimberlee Falkenstein, who received a commissioner’s certificate of commendation for selfless actions.
All three helped find, rescue and get to treatment a disabled man who went missing from a nursing home last year. The incident occurred on Aug. 26, 2012 when a man was reported missing from a retirement home in Mount Forest. The man was observed leaving the home on an electric scooter 18 hours earlier.
The constables were among the officers sent out on the search. Falkenstein was camping when, in the pre-dawn hours, she heard a faint voice from a nearby forested gorge and contacted police.
Constables Seguin and Tutin arrived at the scene and Falkenstein directed them where to search, allowing the officers to focus their hunt where they might not otherwise have concentrated.
“Despite the rough terrain and darkness, the officers followed the faint and intermittent voice until they located the man at the bottom of a steep ravine in a heavily wood area,” master of ceremonies and Western Region media officer Derek Rogers told 300 people at the Oct. 17 event.
“After scaling down the cliff, they reached the [man] wedged under some dense bush and a log. Without hesitation, Constable Tutin crawled to him and hugged him to keep him warm until Constable Seguin returned with blankets as the man was only wearing shorts and suffering from hypothermia.”
The man was later transported and treated in hospital. “The following day Falkenstein, along with friends and family members, retrieved the man’s scooter from the ravine,” Rogers said.
Presentations were also made to auxiliary sergeant Bradley Hull, OPP constable Timothy Sturgeon, and London-based OPP communications operators Tammy-Lyn Jones, Tammy Martin and Melanie Prince-Romanuk – all for helping in an incident in Erin on Oct. 28 last year.
Working the night shift, Jones responded to a call from a woman who said she had been stabbed several times by her husband, who then set fire to their Erin home.
“The woman was bleeding heavily and could see flames and smoke pouring into the bathroom where she was attempting to hide from her husband, who she believed was still armed with a knife and somewhere in the house,” Rogers said of the events that night.
“Jones maintained her composure and kept the caller calm while she obtained crucial details. In the meantime, Prince-Romanuk dispatched the call while Martin spoke to the caller’s mother and obtained critical background information, which was relayed to the responding officers.”
Hull and Sturgeon were the first officers on scene and they found the woman hanging on to the side of the house on a second floor roof, bleeding heavily from her wounds.
“Unknown to all, the suspect had disconnected a gas valve from the furnace in hopes of causing an explosion,” Rogers said. “The injured woman was unable to jump from the roof and the officers could not gain entry to the locked, smoke-filled home.
“In order to reach her, Sturgeon used his cruiser to break down the garage door and obtain a ladder. After the officers placed the ladder precariously on an ice-covered deck, Hull climbed up the roof and carried the casualty down while Sturgeon protected them in case the potentially armed assailant emerged from the house.”
Hull performed first aid and the victim was later transported to hospital. The suspect was later located and charged.
OPP superintendent John Cain said the events and awards recognize contributions in assisting people.
“You cannot write this stuff,” Cain said. “All of these stories involve real people in real danger.”
Also honoured for exemplary service Wellington County OPP Sergeants Rob Nixon for 20 years and Roger Woods for 25 years.
Other officers and civilians from outside Wellington County were also recognized at the Oct. 17 ceremony.
