Police officers commended for outstanding acts of bravery

FIVE officers from Essex Police have been commended for bravery by the Chief Constable for their actions in helping to save lives.

DC Leigh Valentine (pictured with the chief), PC Nina Bourne, PC Mark Hewitt, Det Insp Andrew Harvey and Det Sgt Katie Mead were all praised by Stephen Kavanagh at a special ceremony at Essex Police Headquarters in Chelmsford earlier this month.

DC Valentine, now at Laindon, PC Bourne, based at Southend, and PC Hewitt, a roads policing officer based at Laindon, helped save the life of a man who threatened to jump from a road bridge over the A1089 near Grays.

PC Hewitt was first to respond to the report in March 2011 and spoke to the man to reassure him until constables Valentines and Bourne arrived.

When the man jumped without warning, the officers grabbed hold of his clothing and managed to pull him back to safety.

And Det Insp Harvey, along with colleague PCSO Julie McFadden, helped save the life of a man while they were off duty in April 2012.

Det Insp Harvey went to collect his father-in-law Kenneth Dore from the Anne Boleyn pub in Rochford when he arrived to find him seriously ill and not breathing.

Helped by Julie, who was also in the pub off duty, Det Insp Harvey gave Mr Dore CPR for around 15 minutes until paramedics arrived. Medical staff later said that without their actions, it is likely that Mr Dore would have died.

Also off duty was Det Sgt Mead who is based at Colchester when she and her brother, Gary Whittaker, pulled a man who was trapped in his car to safety.

Det Sgt Mead was travelling along the B1256 near Takely with her brother when they came across a van which was on its roof in a ditch.

The van’s engine was still running and there was a strong smell of fuel but they managed to cut the seatbelt and get the man to safety.

The man had regained consciousness but was struggling to breathe. A Helimed doctor, who later arrived at the scene, praised Katie and her brother for their bravery and decision making which ultimately saved the man’s life.

Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said: “Every day officers and police staff go above and beyond to protect the public, not just when they are on duty but when they are off duty too. I am commending them all today for their quick actions, decision making, professionalism, bravery and public spirit.”

Nick Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “It is always a pleasure and a humbling experience to attend the Chief Constable’s commendations. The ceremony only reaffirmed what I already knew, which is that there are some truly fine police officers working in this county who regularly go above and beyond for the community they serve.”

Mark Smith, chairman of Essex Police Federation, said these officers exemplify the bravery and commitment shown every day by the rank and file.

He added: “It is great that our Chief Constable acknowledges how police officers go above and beyond in the line of duty. He is always aware that this is more than just a job.”