By Roddy AshworthPOLICE officers and civilians have been honoured for acts of special dedication and bravery.Pc David Watkinson and Pc Richard Melton, based at Stansted Airport, were praised for their professionalism and commitment when faced with a man who had collapsed and whose pulse and breathing had stopped.

By Roddy Ashworth

POLICE officers and civilians have been honoured for acts of special dedication and bravery.

Pc David Watkinson and Pc Richard Melton, based at Stansted Airport, were praised for their professionalism and commitment when faced with a man who had collapsed and whose pulse and breathing had stopped.

Together with another officer, they administered a defibulator shock and gave oxygen as well as cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

Due to their efforts, the man was revived, but he died in hospital five days later.

Pc Watkinson and Pc Melton were also presented with Royal Humane Society resuscitation certificates in recognition of their actions.

Acting Sgt Garry Munoz and Pc Andrew Bagley, based in Chelmsford, were commended for their prompt and brave actions on February 28 when they received reports of a flat fire in which a member of the public was hanging from a window.

When they arrived at the scene, they could not see anyone at the window, but as they were the first emergency services to get there, they broke in to the flat, to be faced with a wall of acrid smoke.

After two attempts to locate anyone inside, they eventually discovered a man and led him to safety.

Pc Gerrard Parker, also based in Chelmsford, was commended for chasing an armed burglar over a number of garden fences in Colchester after he threatened members of the public with a knife on November 28 last year.

Although he was off-duty, Pc Parker kept up the pursuit despite being threatened by the knifeman on several occasions and the suspect was detained by other officers who had joined the chase.

Sgt Paul Johnson, based in Colchester, was commended for his dedication and enthusiasm in engaging with community partners and for creating an innovative problem-solving process.

He was described as “inspirational and dedicated” to enhancing community service.

Steven Lane and Steven Brewer were also awarded testimonials on parchment by the Royal Human Society for their actions on February 4.

The two men, from Chelmsford and Witham, risked falling into the near-freezing waters at the meeting of the River Chelmer and the River Cam while trying to rescue a woman who had jumped in.

Mr Brewer and Mr Lane climbed onto a narrow ledge and coaxed the woman to move towards them. After 10 minutes, she moved in range and they managed to pull her to safety.

Alice Moore was commended and presented with a Royal Humane Society certificate for carrying out cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on a 15-year-old boy who had collapsed on playing fields in Halstead, saving his life.

roddy.ashworth@eadt.co.uk