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Police officer honours for valour, meritorious service

The following honourees were selected by a committee of representatives from the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ministry of Justice’s Police Services Division.

AWARDS OF VALOUR:

Vancouver Police Department

Sergeant Mark Christensen and constable James Leishman saved a suicidal man from drowning after he jumped off a bridge.

Sergeant Clive Milligan rescued residents from a burning home.

West Vancouver Police Department

Constable Leroy Dullemond and Name Withheld safely apprehended a male who had doused himself with gasoline and was attempting to light himself on fire.

Kamloops Detachment

Constable Steven Marcil used exceptional judgement during a traffic stop where the contact officer was shot multiple times.

Nanaimo Detachment

Sergeant Paul Minkley (now with Vancouver Island Emergency Response Team) and constable David Buchanan (with Nanaimo Integrated Road Safety Unit) placed themselves at substantial risk to enter a building to search for and apprehend an active shooter.

Prince Rupert Detachment

Corporal Jason Racz (now with Port Alberni Detachment) and constables John (Jay) Patrick Collins, Hillary Murray and Geoffrey Tisdall (now with Nanaimo Detachment) entered a smoke-filled apartment building to search for an evacuate residents.

Sicamous Detachment

Constable Dustan Miller (now with Northern Rockies Traffic Services) saved a suicidal woman from jumping off a bridge.

West Shore Detachment

Corporal Mitchell Fiddick and constable Marc Julien (now with Central Okanagan Traffic Services) rescued an unresponsive, suicidal male from an exhaust-filled garage.

Constable Justin Floyd saved a suicidal woman from jumping off a cliff.

AWARDS OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE:

Abbotsford Police Department

Constables Alex Odintsov and André Poulin searched for the suspect of a shooting and provided lifesaving aid to the victim of the shooting.

Delta Police Department

Staff sergeant Guy Leeson rendered lifesaving aid to a severely injured motorcyclist.

Name Withheld for displaying exceptional commitment to undercover operations and the British Columbia Municipal Undercover Unit.

Vancouver Police Department

Staff sergeant Kevin Bernardin displayed significant dedication and commitment to community policing and the citizens of Vancouver.

Sergeant Mark Wooldridge developed new methodology and best practices for offence code scoring.

Constables Eric Jordan and Emily Ovington assisted in saving a suicidal male from drowning after he jumped off a bridge.

Constables Brian LeQuesne and Neil Logan pursued and apprehended a dangerous male armed with a knife.

Victoria Police Department

Constable Andre Almeida assisted in evacuating residents threatened by a neighbouring house fire.

West Vancouver Police Department

Constables Chris Colgan and Neil Schafer displayed exceptional judgement while dealing with a suicidal female armed with knives.

Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit

Staff sergeant Lindsey Houghton displayed exceptional leadership and innovation in promoting gang prevention, education and awareness through the End Gang Life campaign.

Sergeant Denise Jette (Retired) displayed exceptional performance during a major investigation targeting the leader and senior members of a violent organized crime group.

Ashcroft Detachment

Constable David Gammon (now with Kaslo Detachment) rescued a woman and her children from their vehicle after becoming trapped during a flash flood.

Kelowna Detachment, Serious Crime Unit

Sergeant Joanne Collins (now with BC Missing Persons Unit), corporal Paul Gosling, constable Bernna Barkman and Name Withheld displayed exceptional dedication during a homicide investigation targeting members and associates of an organized crime group.

“E” Division Major Crime Unit

Staff sergeant Peter Tewfik (now with Fort Saskatchewan Detachment) and sergeant Darren Carr developed the RCMP Phased Interview Model for Suspects.

“E” Division Support Services

Name Withheld displayed exceptional dedication and commitment during a high-profile investigation into the random, fatal attack of a community member.

Integrated Homicide Investigation Team

Inspector Stephen Cocks (now with the Unsolved Homicide Unit), sergeants Kevin O’Donnell and Nathan Wells, corporal Kanwar Singh Bal and detective Jeffrey Stewart displayed exceptional dedication during an investigation of a serial killer targeting sex trade workers.

Nanaimo Detachment

Name Withheld developed a sex trade cohort to improve services and reduce risk for sex trade workers.

Constable Michael Gibson rendered first aid to victims of a shooting.

Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional Detachment

Corporal Brian Burke (now with Southeast District HQ) displayed exceptional commitment and leadership during the search for two missing hikers.

Prince George Detachment

Constables Lee Bellamy (now with Nakusp Detachment) and Scott Johnston disarmed a suicidal male and prevented him for further harming himself.

Prince George Police Dog Service

Corporal Colin Warwick displayed initiative and commitment to search a vast, forested area for the body of a murder victim.

Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment

Corporal Shayne Shea (now with Ridge Meadows Detachment) and constable Annelisse Lovell displayed exceptional judgement while dealing with a violent and assaultive male.

Constable Leanne Seguin displayed expertise and commitment to develop best practices for handling and processing exhibits.

West Coast Marine Services

Corporal Christopher Caldwell and constables Michael Reid and Carl Tulk rescued four persons from the turbulent waters of Seymour Narrows after their vessel had capsized.