Bravery awards for cops who tackled armed gang
TWO off-duty police officers who tackled a gang of armed robbers including a Coventry man - have won a Police Bravery Award.
Sergeants David Wilson and Iain McIvor had been celebrating the latter’s recent promotion when they left the pub and came across a jewellery raid. They heard screaming and spotted a high-powered car outside the jewellery shop, revving its engine with its doors open.
As they continued to the store’s entrance, the officers saw a man wearing a balaclava and carrying a pump action shotgun. Two other masked men then left the building, one carrying a lump hammer.
The offender with the shotgun pumped the barrel and yelled: “Get back or I’ll shoot.”
The heroic pair backed onto the street in Newark on January 6, 2016, before Sgt McIvor lunged and grabbed the man with the gun in a bearhug, and began to wrestle with him.
The offender managed to get into the getaway car, which then took off, dragging Sgt McIvor for almost 20 metres before he was thrown out.
The pair looked after traumatised staff after securing the shop and waited with them until Nottinghamshire Police arrived.
Their incredible efforts secured the arrests and successful convictions of 12 offenders. Among them was Nathan Clarke, 28, of Wrigsham Street, Coventry, who was jailed for 15 years for conspiracy to rob and converting criminal property. He was also given a further two years for an unrelated offence.
They were also nominated for a Bravery Award by the Police Federation and claimed the top prize for the Eastern region.
A heroic Warwickshire Police officer was also nominated for one of the Police Federation’s awards, but unfortunately did not win.
Sgt Carl Beaumont was put forward after he climbed a gantry over the busy M6 near Coventry and helped talk down a suicidal man.
Sgt Beaumont ascended the giant messaging board over the motorway near to Junction 3 and spent 35 minutes chatting to the man who was threatening to jump in to the path of oncoming traffic.
They eventually came down together and the man gave Sgt Beaumont a hug.