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Meritorious service wins local B.C. honours

A Cranbrook police officer was among those honoured for valour and meritorious service by the province on Nov. 20.

A Cranbrook police officer was among those honoured for valour and meritorious service by the province on Nov. 20.

Corporal Phillip Sullivan is a member of the Southeast District Police Dog Service in Cranbrook. Sullivan tracked and rescued a traveller lost in the wilderness and at risk of hypothermia.

The 34th annual B.C. Police Honours Night are held for  police officers who braved armed suspects, flames and icy waters to save others, and whose remarkable work enhanced safety in their communities at Government House.

The event was held at Government House.

Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon and Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton presented awards to 87 outstanding officers.

“The depth of commitment, clear-headedness and skill demonstrated by these officers — in perilous moments, and over longer periods of service — are examples to their colleagues and those who aspire to policing and other first responder roles,” said Anton.

“Officers like these directly contribute so much to the safety of our communities, and their accomplishments are worthy of recognition and celebration.”

Those include 87 officers include:

• Eight officers who helped workers escape their maze-like, smoke-filled office after an armed ex-employee set a fire and created additional hazards by wrecking furniture and equipment.

• An officer whose first-aid efforts likely saved the life of a man whose femur had been shattered by a rifle shot at close range.

• Two officers who waded into an ice-cold, fast-moving river to save a suicidal, hypothermic woman.

In all, 19 officers received the award of valour, the highest award for a police officer in B.C. These officers made a decision to place themselves at substantial risk to save others.

Sixty-eight police officers were awarded meritorious service honours. This recognizes exemplary performance that exceeds expectations and enhances the public image of police officers.

Each fall, the provincial government recognizes members of independent municipal police forces, the RCMP, and First Nations and transit police services who have acted in an exemplary manner.

Award recipients are selected by a committee made up of representatives from the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ministry of Justice’s Police Services Division.