Bravery awards for North police pair
OFFICERS HONOURED AFTER THEY TACKLED ARMED MAN
TWO courageous North East police officers have been honoured for confronting a gun-wielding man to save a victim of domestic violence.
Northumbria PCs Gary Sharpe and Victoria Threadgold are this year’s regional winners in the Police Bravery Awards.
The pair confronted and disarmed a man waving a 4ft samurai sword at them and later a handgun.
They were called to a domestic incident where a woman had been assaulted.
The offender was known to have a history of violence, was drunk and described as having a multiple personality disorder.
PC Threadgold took the victim to safety, and as the officers went further into the house, they were confronted by a heavily built man, who threatened them from the top of the stairs where he was encouraging two Staffordshire bull terriers and a German shepherd to attack the officers. He also threatened them with a samurai sword and a handgun, which he pointed in PC Sharpe’s face.
Using CS spray the officer successfully restrained the violent man, while PC Threadgold came to his aid. The man continued to struggle with the two officers as they grabbed the weapon.
The awards, hosted by the Police Federation of England and Wales and sponsored by Police Mutual, honour some of the finest officers in England and Wales who have performed incredible acts of bravery, while on or off duty.
The two overall joint winners this year were PC Keith Palmer and PC Charlie Guenigault.
PC Palmer was awarded posthumously, after he was killed in the Westminster terror attack.
He was on duty at Westminster Palace when a terrorist drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, injuring and killing innocent people.
Hearing the screaming coming from Westminster Bridge, unarmed PC Palmer immediately ran towards the noise.
He began closing the gates, intent on protecting those within Parliament. But as he was doing his job he was set upon by the terrorist and attacked with a knife.
PC Guenigault was on his way home from relaxing with friends after finishing his shift, when three knife-wielding terrorists attacked the public at London Bridge.
Unarmed PC Guenigault was determined to protect the innocent people around him and ran towards the terrorists, fighting them with his bare hands. The terrorists stabbed him repeatedly, leaving him in a critical condition.
PC Gary Sharpe said: “I am ecstatic that me and Vicki won the award. We were just doing our job at the end of the day – and it was an honour to even just be nominated. “When you’re dealing with something like that, the adrenaline does kick in.
“But I know that the incredible people I work with would have done the same thing if they were in my shoes.” PC Vicki Threadgold said: “I can’t believe we were the winners. I am proud knowing that we were able to get the woman out of a very dangerous situation before things escalated any further.”
Northumbria Police Chief Constable Winton Keenen said: “I am incredibly proud of our winning PCs, Gary and Vicki, who showed tremendous courage when dealing with such a dangerous and unpredictable incident.
“I’d like to congratulate them both – they’re a credit to our Force and thoroughly deserved to be recognised for their outstanding police work.”
I am proud knowing that we were able to get the woman out of a very dangerous situation before things escalated any further