Fast-thinking heroes honoured
22 citizens, six city police officers get Appreciation Awards
Twenty-two citizens and six city police officers were honoured Wednesday night at the Knights of Columbus Police Appreciation Awards.
The 40th annual awards ceremony took place at the Knights of Columbus hall on Hunter St. W.
Civilians and members of Peterborough Police Service were recognized for their contributions over the last year. Special recognition was also given to Chief Murray Rodd, who retires June 30.
Civilian Awards
Abe Draycott, Grant Heighway and Stewart Tummonds rescued two children from a truck that had flipped and landed in a ditch full of water in Cavan Monaghan Township in October.
Tara Genge helped stop an assault on an elderly cyclist who was being struck with a club by a male truck driver in July. Genge also recorded the beating on her phone, which helped the police lay charges.
Justin Pellerin was an apprentice with Hydro One when he drove by a Quebec hydro worker being electrocuted on Brealey Dr. in July. Knowing the ground was still electrified, Pellerin stayed on scene to alert police and EMS of the hazard, likely saving others’ lives.
Aaron Beverly and Kelly and Andre Robert rescued two men and a boy on the Otonabee River near Lock 19 after their canoe tipped in July. When emergency responders couldn’t reach the trio in the water, Beverly, a lockmaster, opened the lock, letting the Roberts through on jet skis to collect the threesome.
Steve Smith came to the aid of a lone police officer attempting to arrest a violent and resistant man after he’d shoplifted from Walmart on Lansdowne St. Smith, who was driving by the
incident, jumped out of his vehicle to help the officer and stayed until other officers arrived.
Brad Godward stopped at a car pulled over on the side of Keene Rd. to see if anyone needed help. The driver was unresponsive and there was a young child in the backseat without proper clothing for October weather. Had he not stopped the child could have faced serious harm.
When officers attended a home in April to tell a woman her husband had died traumatically, the woman asked her friends Robert and Elizabeth Dainton to be by her side. The Daintons immediately came to her aid and provided comfort, which helped calm the woman during a bad time.
Terri Cox responded to cries for help from woods near her home on Scollard Dr. in March. A man had fallen through the ice. Her quick reaction to call 911 and lead officers to the man, saved his life.
Shawn Salo jumped in to help an officer who was about to be assaulted during a protest at Confederation Square in September. He held the assailant until police asked him to let go. During the incident, Salo was assaulted and suffered a broken finger.
Julie Buchan stopped to help a man pinned under his tractor on Sherbrooke St. in June. She flagged down others to move the tractor off the man, and stayed with him, calming him, until first responders arrived.
Martin Schady and Craig Willoughby were fishing near Bridge St. in Lakefield in July when they noticed a man caught in the current. They tossed him a floating ring and pulled him to safety.
Brad King and Katherine Woodman noticed a toddler dressed in pajamas outside their home in January. They bundled her up and were looking for her parents when they ran into a police officer.
Robert Hedge was driving when he noticed a possible impaired driver in the west end in April and called 911. He followed the driver, providing the licence plate and vehicle description. When police stopped her, she was three times over the legal limit and had three kids in the back.
Paul Hennesey and Mitchel Bennet apprehended a man who’d assaulted three people in the Market Plaza parking lot in April. They restrained the man until police arrived and provided details for his prosecution.
Officer Awards
Awards for members of Peterborough Police Service:
Carol Winter Humanitarian: Sgt. Sean Wilson
Robert Lewis Bursary: Const. Thomas Whiteway
Police Exemplary Service Awards:
Const. Matthew Cumming (20-year medal)
Const. Dan Hickey (30-year medal)
Sgt. Robert MacLean (30-year medal)
The Knights of Columbus Police Officer of the Year 2018: Const. Samuel McCullum and police service dog Hal
McCullum and Hal tracked down an intoxicated young woman who’d wandered off and fallen into the Otonabee River in March. McCullum and an auxiliary officer used Hal’s leash to pull her out of the icy river.