Life-saving heroics of Hampshire's police officers celebrated

The life-saving heroics of Hampshire’s police officers and staff have been celebrated at a special awards ceremony.

From performing vital CPR on a new born baby, to literally lifting a bus to rescue a man trapped underneath, those honoured have leapt into action without a moment’s hesitation.

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney had the privilege of presenting these officers and members of staff at a dedicated ceremony at our training headquarters in Netley.

They were awarded accolades from the Royal Humane Society, as well as Chief Constable Congratulations and Commendations.

Chief Constable Pinkney said: “We work every day to protect the public but these officers and members of staff honoured here have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“Our officers often find themselves first at a scene and if they didn’t act quickly, doing everything they can to save lives despite not being the medical experts, lives would be lost.

“I can honestly say that when I read these accounts I was overwhelmed with pride – from lifting buses, to plugging life-threatening wounds with their hands and keeping a clear head in a truly traumatic situation, there is no doubt these acts of bravery deserve recognition.”

She added: “It is important for me to celebrate these achievements and show people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight the exceptional work our officers are doing day in and day out to fight crime and protect the vulnerable.”

John Apter, Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, who attended, added: “Police officers never know what they will face when they start their shift.

“There is no greater act you can give than to save the life of another, although the officers receiving the awards will say they were just doing their job, it’s right that they are recognised in this way.

"I am incredibly proud of my colleagues, their professionalism, bravery and dedication is typical of them and they deserve all the praise they receive”.

Please see below for details of some of the awards presented.

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PC Christopher Weir – Aldershot response and patrol

A family will forever be indebted to this officer whose heroic actions saved the life of their new born baby.
On the morning of May 6, 2017, PC Weir was deployed with his colleague PC Hill, following a call that a three-day-old baby had stopped breathing.
Within four minutes they arrived at the house to find the panicked mother and father holding their baby who had turned blue by that point.
Without hesitation PC Weir immediately performed lifesaving first aid, clearing the baby’s airway, arching his neck and patting his back.
At the same time PC Hill helped by repeating the extensive instructions from the qualified neo-natal first aid police staff controller on the phone.
The ambulance arrived after 20 minutes.
Had the baby been left without medical assistance for seven minutes he may not have survived.
PC Weir has been awarded the Royal Humane Society Certificate of Resuscitation.

Dog handler PC Katie McGloin and PC Ian Castle from Basingstoke response and patrol

This duo took swift action to save a man’s life in Basingstoke.
They were the first on the scene when a dog walker reported seeing a man jump from a tree and was hanging in January 2017.
PC McGloin quickly climbed 15ft up the tree to cut the man free and PC Castle managed to break the man’s fall, safely lowering him to the ground.
The officers then started CPR, taking turns until the ambulance arrived.
Without their quick-thinking that day, this man would not be alive today.
They have been awarded the Royal Humane Society Certificate of Resuscitation.

PC Malcolm Long, response and patrol Portsmouth

When it comes to saving a man’s life, this officer proved he had the tenacity and determination to do whatever was needed.
While out on routine patrol, PC Malcolm Long and his colleague discovered a man who was bleeding heavily from a wound in his neck in Woodland Street, Portsmouth on October 14, 2016.
PC Long immediately gave first aid to the man, placing a bandage on his throat.
But the bleed was so heavy that multiple bandages did not stem the flow and the officer had to think on his feet to use whatever tools he had disposal of.
With time against them, PC Long used his initiative and pushed his finger into the wound to plug it.
He maintained this position so well, that when the paramedics arrived, they kept him holding it all the way to the hospital.
The loss of blood had been so great that had he lost any more, he would have died.
PC Long has been awarded the Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation.

PC Jonathan York, response and patrol Lyndhurst and Nigel Rasey, member of the public

This officer was described as having the “magic touch” when it came to saving a man’s life.
PC Jonathan York was deployed to a Fawley gym in Newlands Road, in April 2017 where a man had been found slumped over a rowing machine, not breathing and without a pulse.
The man’s friend, Nigel Rasey, had already started CPR when PC York arrived and took over.
By the time ambulance arrived the man had started breathing again.
PC York has been very modest about his actions that day but the ambulance crew said he had the “magic touch” which saved that man’s life.
PC York and Mr Rasey have been awarded the Royal Humane Society Certificate of Resuscitation.

PC Jo Ford, response and patrol Lyndhurst and Gill Martin, member of the public

This officer put her own life at risk when she went to help an injured man at the side of an extremely busy motorway.
PC Jo Ford was driving along the M27 in June, 2017, when she passed three men fighting in the live carriageway close to junction 3.
When she pulled over, one of the men was on the ground with serious head injuries, struggling to breathe.
He then suffered a seizure, making it difficult for PC Ford to hold him down in the recovery position.
At the same time she was trying to keep both witnesses and those responsible at the scene.
Fortunately, Gill Martin, a nurse, came running down the hard shoulder to help the officer.
This all happened during a time of extremely heavy traffic but both women put themselves at risk in the live lane of a motorway to help this man.
PC Ford has been awarded the Royal Humane Society testimonial in Vellum and Gill Martin has been awarded the Royal Humane Society Certificate in Parchment.

PC Andrew Gamblin and PC Neal Skinner (pictured) – Dog section

Despite facing what could have been a potentially hazardous situation, these two officers did everything they could to save a man’s life.
PC Gamblin and PC Skinner were first on the scene following reports of a man in need of medical attention in a field in Alton in April, 2017.
They both quickly assessed the scene and ensured they were both wearing appropriate protective equipment from their first aid kit to safely deliver CPR to the man.
Under these particularly difficult circumstances the pair continued to give CPR for almost half an hour, until paramedics arrived.
Sadly the man was pronounced dead.
Despite the outcome, the calm and methodical approach of these officers to deliver vital first aid had given the man the best possible chance of survival, which will hopefully be of some comfort to his family.
Throughout this incident both demonstrated exceptional professionalism and commitment.
PC Skinner and PC Gamblin is awarded a Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation.

Student officer PC Keeka Way and Winchester PCSO Neil Parker

It’s a scene more akin to a super hero movie – a bus being lifted up and off of a trapped man.
But it was a reality for these two officers whose first aid skills and super human strength helped to save a man’s life.
While out on patrol together in December 2016, PCSO Neil Parker and student officer PC Keeka Way, who was then a PCSO leapt into action when they heard screams coming from Silver Hill in Winchester.
Confronted with a man trapped under a bus, with only his head visible, PCSO Way, with help from a nurse who happened to be nearby, tried to find a pulse.
The man’s shirt was tight around his neck, so she ripped the top button but no pulse could be found.
At the same time, PCSO Parker got people off the bus and away from the scene, giving the others room to treat the injured man.
Knowing that the only chance this man had of survival was to get him out from under the bus as soon as possible, PCSO Parker got together some people and they took hold of the near side of the bus.
PCSO Way counted down and shouted ‘lift’ and when the bus lifted up, she and the nurse pulled the man out.
Unfortunately he was caught, so those lifting the bus continued to use all their strength to hold it up until the man was completely free.
As he was released he took a gasp of air and a passing doctor helped PCSO Way to hold his neck and keep his airways open.
The man had suffered serious injuries but he survived thanks to the actions of these two officers and those members of the public who helped them that day.
PC Way has been awarded the Royal Humane Society Testimonial in Vellum and PSCO Neil Parker has been awarded a Chief Constable’s Certificate of Congratulations.

Special Constable Paul Wheeler

Special Constable Paul Wheeler was a tower of support for a wife whose husband stopped breathing suddenly.
Paul, an off duty trainee, pulled over immediately when he saw the woman in considerable distress at the side of the road in March 2017.
He took over first aid and lifted the man from the car so that he could start chest compressions.
Once paramedics arrived he did what he could to comfort the woman and helped her to contact her family.
Sadly, despite his quick intervention the man did not survive but the woman wanted Paul recognised for his rapid response and continued care.
Paul Wheeler has been awarded the Royal Humane Society Certificate of Resuscitation.

Jamie Christian, Fratton CID

The work day had not even started for this police staff investigator when he rushed to help those involved in an incident on the M27.
Jamie Christian was on his way to work when he saw a woman fall from a motorway bridge.
Despite being in the middle of a motorway during the morning rush hour, Jamie dealt with the situation calmly and succinctly, doing everything he could to care for those involved. Sadly the woman died.
One of the drivers said he acted in a professional and empathetic way throughout.
When it was all over Jamie continued on to work.
Jamie has had no crisis management training and aged only 26, his actions that day have been described as “phenomenal”.
He has been awarded with a Chief Constable Congratulations.

Martin Drysdale and DC Ann Keir

Even when these colleagues were off duty at a funeral they didn’t hesitate to take action to protect the public.
Martin Drysdale and DC Ann Keir were at a wake, following the funeral of a mutual friend when two bar staff were assaulted by a man who was known to be trained in martial arts.
Despite the danger and knowing she did not have any of her personal safety equipment, DC Keir went outside with Martin to arrest the man.
When he ran off, she pulled out her warrant card, putting herself on duty and arrested him on suspicion of assault.
As a result, Martin was punched in the face but they were able to get him into handcuffs when back up arrived.
They demonstrated total professionalism and bravery, putting themselves in harm’s way to act without fear or safety equipment, to protect the public.
They have been awarded a Chief Constable Commendation.

Police Officer Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
PC Steven Misselbrook
PC Nicola Goode
PC Darren Bramley
PC Nigel Evans
PC Graham Snelgar
Detective Inspector Tina Lowe
PC Jon Lansley
PC Simon Ford
Special Inspector Warner Baker