Public Servant Lifestyle

Northumbria Police officers and members of the public have been honoured for their outstanding actions at a bravery awards ceremony.

Chief Constable Crispian Strachan and Councillor Mick Henry, Chairman of the Police Authority, presented the awards along with police long service and good conduct medals.

The following received Chief Constable commendations: PCs Mark Rochester and Ray Dunn were on patrol in the seafront area of Whitley Bay in August when they were told a man armed with a knife was threatening people and had also cut himself.

The man, who was armed with a large kitchen knife, was bleeding from cuts to his left arm and was threatening to stab himself and the officers. The officers were eventually able to overcome the man, disarm him and arrest him, preventing injuries to themselves and others.

PCs Douglas Robinson and Helen Hunter were commended for their actions when confronted by a man with a knife during a house search in Hendon, Sunderland. He was in an agitated and volatile state and refused to put the knife down. The officers managed to overpower and disarm him and also found drugs and a CS spray in his possession for which he was subsequently charged.

Rescue

PC Rachael Brennan and her mother, Mrs Anne Brennan, saved a woman from drowning in March. PC Brennan, based at Gateshead West, was off duty and was out with her mother walking her dog on the beach at South Shields when she saw a woman floating face up about 30 metres from the shore. She appeared to be unconscious.

PC Brennan asked surfers to stay with her mother while she went for help but before she had time to find a telephone her mother had gone into the sea and was dragging the woman back to the shore. At one point Mrs Brennan lost her footing and PC Brennan ran back to help.

They got the woman ashore and Mrs Brennan started resuscitating her while her daughter ran for help. The woman was taken to hospital and eventually recovered, while Mrs Brennan was treated at the scene for the effects of hypothermia.

Sunderland West PC Stephen Legg received a Chief Constable's commendation for 'extraordinary actions' in getting into the home of a man found collapsed behind the door of his home in Silksworth, Sunderland.

PC Legg and colleagues, found the 48-tear-old lying motionless at the foot of his stairs with his body wedged against the door. To get in, PC Legg had to climb onto the kitchen extension of the flat below, reach across a steep tiled roof which had traces of snow and ice, stand on a satellite dish and break a window of the upstairs flat.

The man had no pulse and was not breathing. PC Legg had to kick the door open so that colleagues could get in, then started ventilation and heart massage until paramedics arrived. The man was resuscitated in the ambulance but sadly he died three days later.

Search

James Scott from Tynemouth Voluntary Lifeboat Service received a Chief Constable's commendation for his part in rescuing a man from the sea off South Shields in July. Police started a search after being told that a 44-year-old man was going to kill himself. After finding his vehicle in a car park the North East Air Support Unit helicopter and marine section joined in the search, along with the coastguard.

The man was eventually spotted swimming half a mile out. He was aggressive and refusing any assistance from the police or lifeboat crew until James Scott, from the lifeboat service, got into the water in order to ensure that the man did not drown. Although he continued to struggle Mr Scott managed to guide him to the police lifeboat, where he was then pulled to safety.

Eleven officers were also awarded Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medals, two support staff received Long Service Awards and two Special Constables were be presented with Long Service Awards.

More information available in Incentives & Rewards