Police officers recognised at bravery awards
Published 5 Dec 2010 09:30
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BRAVERY of both the public and serving police officers are being honoured.
Lothian and Borders Police's annual Meritorious Awards ceremony was due to take place at Police Headquarters in Edinburgh last week but was postponed due to the snow.
Among those due to receive awards, Rebecca Reid from Selkirk, and three constables from Galashiels, Steven Irvine, Alisdair Paterson and Barrie Keown, all helped save the life of a man in the Ettrick Valley last November.
After spotting the man sitting on the edge of a bridge, Ms Reid stopped and talked to him before calling for police help.
PC's Irvine and Paterson attended the call, where they also talked to the man, and tried to persuade him to climb back over the edge to safety.
When PC Keown arrived at the scene, the officers decided to grab the man, and together they successfully dragged him to safety.
A police spokesman said: "All of those involved acted calmly in an extremely tense and distressing situation, and we are pleased to honour their level headed actions."
Sergeant Kevin Storey from Galashiels and local PC Lizzie Richardson, as well as PC Ian McAvoy, also saved a life during the snow storms last January.
PC Richardson was called out after a woman from Melrose was reported missing.
There was extreme concern for her well-being, as the country was in the grip of winter, and temperatures were below freezing.
Because of heavy snowfall, PC Richardson was able to follow fresh footprints in the snow, which led to the edge of the River Tweed.
The spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police told us: "After spotting the woman in the river, Constable Richardson called for help, and while attempting to talk to her, followed her as she was pulled downstream.
"When Sergeant Storey and Constable McAvoy arrived at the scene, Sergeant Storey did not hesitate in attaching a lifeline and wading into the water. After he grabbed the woman and dragged her to the riverbank, Constables McAvoy and Richardson waded into the water to help get her out of the water."
All three officers worked with ambulance colleagues to revive the woman, and raise her temperature before she was taken to hospital for treatment.
The spokesman added: "Without their quick response, there is little doubt the woman would have drowned, so we are pleased to recognise their actions."
Temporary Sergeant James Dewar, who is based at Hawick Police Station, and Galashiels PC, John Riley, also plucked a woman from a Borders river last winter.
The policemen were on patrol in Innerleithen last November when screams were heard coming from the flooded Leithen Water.
After a quick search, they found a woman who was waist-deep in water clinging to undergrowth on the riverbank. Both officers clambered down the banking and dragged the woman to safety.
The spokesman said: "Given the depth and speed of the river flow at the time, this incident could well have had a tragic outcome had Sergeant Dewar and Constable Riley not acted so quickly, despite putting themselves in danger."
Lucy Kennedy from Peebles also saved the life of a woman. Last January Ms Kennedy noticed the distressed lady on the street – and was so concerned about her welfare, she followed her to Tweed Bridge before calling for police assistance.
The police spokesman said: "Lucy made another emergency call saying she was with the woman on the Tweed Bridge and was holding on to her.
When police arrived they saw the woman slumped on the wrong side of the parapet, with Lucy holding her around the waist. With the assistance of the officers, they succeeded in pulling the woman to safety."
Ms Kennedy held the woman for a full five minutes before officers had arrived – and undoubtedly saved the woman's life.
Cameron and Stephanie Reith from Hawick may not have saved any lives but they did foil a criminal spending spree with forged cash.
After noticing a man acting suspiciously outside a shop in their hometown in February, they watched discreetly as an accomplice appeared from inside to handover goods and money.
The spokesman added: "Suspecting the men were up to no good, Cameron and Stephanie watched discreetly, noting descriptions and details of the shops. Stephanie, who is a member of police staff, meantime called police and told them about her suspicions.
"Both suspects were searched, and a quantity of counterfeit notes was discovered that were linked to fake notes traced in Eyemouth the day before.
"When their home address was searched, more counterfeit currency was found, and eventually they were charged with a total of 13 offences across the force region."
This article appeared in Border Telegraph 07 Dec 10
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