Hero cops honoured for tackling violent axeman
A POLICE officer who confronted a violent axeman in Glasgow city centre shrugged of his bravery and said “it’s what we signed up to do.”
PC Alexander McCullough and PC Daniel White were first on the scene after the man, who had been attacking members of the public and was also armed with knives, struck in West Nile Street during rush hour.
The man was ‘covered in blood and highly aggressive’ and started slashing at his own neck.
The officers grabbed him and kept him restrained until paramedics arrived. He later died from his injuries.
Speaking for the first time about the incident in April this year, PC McCullough said: “We were just focused on trying to contain the situation and make sure no-one got hurt.
“That’s our job; it’s what we signed up to do. You don’t realise the danger you’re in until afterwards.”
PC White, a police officer of 12 years, said it was a “confusing situation”.
He added: “When we saw that the man was also attacking himself, it was quite shocking.
“When you’re in this position, you know that you are responsible for protecting people, so you just do it.”
The pair are among eight police officers from the city who have been recognised for their extraordinary acts of bravery at the Scottish Police Federation Bravery Awards.
Andrea MacDonald, Chair of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “The actions under- taken by these police officers that day were incredibly brave.
“This level of courage and commitment is simply breathtaking..”
Four officers who pulled a violent man armed with a baseball bat from a house fire in Drumchapel, while protecting Fire Service colleagues, also won a bravery award.
The Glasgow North West Police officers, PC Michael Baxter, PC Derek Paton, PC David Robertson and PC Liam Burns, were called to a property earlier this year, after firefighters reported they were unable to enter the blazing building.
They had to subdue a man swinging a nail headed baseball bat and who had set fire to the block of flats he lived in.
Two officers who were badly injured as they confronted a gang of violent criminals, were also recognised at the awards.
PC Deborah Lawson and PC Robert Fitzsimmons were hospitalised after showing tremendous bravery at an incident in Knightswood last year.
A total of 23 officers from across Scotland were honoured at a ceremony in the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel in Edinburgh.