THUNDER BAY -- Provincial Constables Darryl Clark, Brady Hillis, and Beth Chevalier had to act quickly when they responded to reports of a man who had fallen through the ice.
The Provincial Constables’ actions on March 13, 2016 were honoured Thursday afternoon during the provincial police force’s annual North West Region Awards.
“This spring I was working in Kenora and we had an individual go through the ice in Safety Bay,” Clark said after the award ceremony.
“In that area the ice is pretty thin, so he was disoriented, wasn’t able to make it across and fell through the ice.”
The officers located a canoe and carefully brought the man back to shore where he was later brought to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia.
“I think all of us were just more worried about the other person and trying to save the man’s life, we don’t tend to think about ourselves,” Clark said.
“It’s always nice to be able to get someone home to their family, it’s very satisfying.”
Clark said as an officer it’s hard to get up in front of people and receive an award, it’s not something they strive for, but he is happy to accept it.
The North West Region Awards are a part of a series of award ceremonies held by the OPP every year to recognize the courageous acts of police officers in the region.
Commissioner Vince Hawkes said it’s a great honour to be able to attend these ceremonies.
“To be able to come up to the northwest region and to recognize these individuals,” Hawkes said.
“Not only within our organization but outside the organization, the members of the public who go above and beyond and really contribute to public safety in a way that no one has asked them to do that.”
He added that they recognize both the officers for what they do and how the contribute to society, but also the members of the public.
Hawes presented awards to a Kenora OPP officer who received a Commissioner’s Lifetime Achievement Award for serving as an inspiration to other OPP officers for more than 25 years.
Alongside a number of women who received the Silent Partner Award in tribute to the valuable, unpaid, ongoing voluntary support to OPP members stationed at isolated detachments from 1909 to the 1970’s.
“It’s an honour for me as commissioner to come to these events,” Hawkes said.
“As a leader in our organization it’s great to recognize people, this is probably the funnest part of the job to recognize people who deserve a pat on the back, a certificate, recognition like this.”
