The Metropolitan Police has announced that voting is now open for their very own bravery awards – this is a vote that the public CAN take part in!
Included in the award nominations (scroll down for video), is A PC who confronted a gun-wielding suspect in a hospital; a Met Police dog handler who ran into a burning building to save lives; and an officer who held onto a suspected burglar despite seriously injuring his arm after putting it through broken glass are the three bravest acts of police work in the capital being put to the public vote today.
The three remarkable nominations put forward this year for the Met Excellence Awards’ Bravery category demonstrate the heroic actions of Met officers who went above and beyond the call of duty to save lives and catch criminals.
The public vote opened on Monday, 25 February and will close at 23:59hrs on Monday, 4 March.
The winner will be presented with their award at the eighth annual Met Excellence Awards ceremony on Monday, 11 March, which is being hosted by LBC’s Nick Ferrari.
These bravery awards are an excellent opportunity for the Met to showcase and highlight the true dedication and selfless bravery of the men and women who dedicate their lives to helping others.
PC Stevie Bull, Central North Command Unit (Camden and Islington):
PC Stevie Bull showed courage and bravery in the face of extreme threat when she unexpectedly confronted a man with a suspected firearm in a hospital.
The officer became aware of an incident unfolding at University College Hospital in March 2018 where she was working on an unrelated case. A suspect was threatening staff with a firearm and, without concern for her own safety, PC Bull acted on instinct and put herself between the suspect and the hospital staff, helping to protect them and divert the gunman’s attention.
PC Bull closed the gap between herself and the suspect, giving clear commands to put down the weapon. When he refused, she attempted to grab it. In the struggle, she sustained a head injury after being thrown into a wall, but she continued to tackle the suspect, wrestling the gun from his hands, handcuffing and arresting him.
The firearm was later found to be a starter pistol, however PC Bull did not know this at the time of her heroic actions.
PC Bull is now a Sergeant on the Central East Command Unit (Hackney and Tower Hamlets).
PC Neil Dobson, South-East Dog Support Unit:
PC Dobson’s commitment and passion undoubtedly saved lives when he ran into a burning building.
The officer was conducting an arrest enquiry with his dog Monty and colleagues from Operation Viper in May 2018 when they were made aware of a fire in a nearby building on London Road in Croydon, by a member of the public.
Upon approaching the premises, they could hear someone trapped inside shouting for help. The basement flat was full of thick black smoke with the door locked from the inside.
PC Dobson tied up Monty, and with no thought for his own safety, he rushed into the building and to the residents’ aid.
PC Dobson and his colleagues gained entry and systematically cleared every flat over three floors. They went in again and again, and despite suffering injuries from opening the doors and it becoming difficult to breathe, the officers continued until everyone was brought to safety.
Amongst those rescued was a man found collapsed in the hallway and several families with small children; in one case a young baby. No resident was injured.
Without the officer’s thought for the vulnerable, sleeping people inside and the quick action he took, the incident could have easily spiralled into tragedy.
The incident was captured on body-worn video and it is evident that PC Dobson and his colleagues showed huge courage and saved lives that day.
PC Luke Bowers, South-East Dog Support Unit:
PC Bowers showed heroic determination when he held onto a suspect, despite seriously injuring his arm by doing so.
While on duty with his dog Duke, PC Bowers responded to an aggravated burglary in Bromley in September 2018. Two suspects inside the property broke a first-floor window and jumped out of it. The first escaped, but as the second jumped, PC Bowers grabbed him.
The suspect’s weight pulled PC Bowers’ arm against the broken glass, resulting in a serious laceration. Despite this, PC Bowers retained his grip, determined not to let the suspect get away.
When local officers arrived, they found PC Bowers still holding the suspect and saw his arm was heavily bleeding.
PC Bowers was hospitalised for three days and only returned to his normal duties this month following the incident.
The full details of each nomination can be found on the official Met voting page
Commissioner Cressida Dick, said:
“We have some outstanding candidates for this year’s Bravery Award.
“All three would make very worthy winners. Such remarkable acts of professionalism and selfless acts of bravery are often carried out in the Metropolitan Police
“These awards give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the courage of some of our officers who have gone above and beyond to keep London safe.
“My officers and staff joined the Met to serve and protect Londoners and make our city safer for everyone.
“I am proud to lead an organisation where amazing work happens
“The Met Excellence Awards is an opportunity for us to say thank you to all those men and women of the Met who give so much for London every day.”
The 2019 Met Excellence Awards are sponsored by Leidos – Frequentis – Hexagon SI UK,
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