Heroes Burn Bright At Bravery Awards

One of the honourees was Police Constable John Atkinson, who was shot to death when he approached two suspicious individuals in a parking lot outside a convenience store in Windsor last May.

After he was shot in the face, Atkinson managed to return fire, but was later pronounced dead at the scene. The two individuals were arrested shortly after and were charged with murder and narcotics offences.

“In saving lives and fighting crime, these individuals have shown outstanding courage,” Lieut.-Gov. James Bartleman said in a release. “By honouring their bravery, we also show our gratitude for the daily acts of courage of firefighters and police officers across Ontario.”

Sergeant Lawrence Zimmerman of the Toronto Police Service (pictured) was honoured Thursday for his incredibly brave actions on the night of April 14, 2005 when he ran into a burning building on Rutherford Avenue and carried a woman out, clearing the way for firefighters to save an 18-month-old baby inside.

“The walls were on fire and I had to crawl on my stomach in order to see anything. Pretty thick black smoke. I’ve never seen smoke so thick before,” the 21-year-veteran of the force recalled.

“I don’t recall being scared at the time … somebody was yelling there was a baby inside, and I just went in. I just had to try and find him.”

Five officers from the London Police Service were recognized for their efforts on June 27, 2005 when a nine-year-old girl fled her family home and told police her mother had been shot. When the five officers arrived to investigate, a gunman shot at them and set the home on fire. Police rushed in and discovered the suspect had shot the mother and two children and then himself.

And two GTA firefighters, Andrew Brassard and Steve Ellis, were also honoured for their valiant actions on the morning of July 27, 2006 when they were called out to a rapidly developing house fire in Milton. The pair waded through heavy smoke and found an unconscious person in the basement who was treated in hospital and made a full recovery.

Here’s a look at all of the officers and firefighters honoured for their bravery Thursday:

2006 Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery Recipients:

Firefighters Richard Ainsworth and Richard Armstrong
Chatham-Kent Fire Department

On a cold Sunday morning in January 2005, firefighters Richard Ainsworth and Richard Armstrong were suddenly awakened by their pagers. They quickly went to an apartment fire above a clothing repair shop in downtown Blenheim. Fire had already breached the front window. Despite the heavy smoke, Ainsworth and Armstrong managed to reach the upper floor. They kicked the locked door open and rescued an injured person lying on the floor. Thanks to their team efforts, the victim survived and fully recovered after a lengthy stay in hospital.

Firefighters Andrew Brassard and Steve Ellis
Milton Fire Department

In the early morning hours of July 27, 2006, firefighters Andrew Brassard and Steve Ellis responded to a house fire on White Drive in Milton. They searched the second floor in zero-visibility and under rapidly deteriorating conditions as the fire quickly spread. The pair continued their search into the basement and evacuated an unconscious person who was lying on a bed. The victim spent a brief period in hospital and later made a full recovery.

2006 Ontario Medal for Police Bravery Recipients:

Constable Andrew Bakker, Constable Philip Hordijk, Constable John Legault, Constable Scott Sladek and Sergeant Dean Streefkerk
London Police Service

During the night of Monday, June 27, 2005, a nine-year-old girl fled her London family home and told neighbours that she believed her mother was dead, the victim of a shooting. When they tried to enter the home, police were shot at by a gunman inside, who soon set fire to the home. Police feared that the gunman had shot the mother and two children. Regardless of personal danger, Sergeant Streefkerk and Constables Bakker, Sladek, Hordijk and Legault entered the smoke-filled residence and searched for the gunman and his hostages. They evacuated all three victims and the armed suspect. All were dead from gunshots. Sergeant Streefkerk and Constables Hordijk and Bakker were treated for smoke inhalation.

Provincial Constable Bret Davis
Ontario Provincial Police
Quinte West Detachment

While on patrol on June 4, 2005, Constable Davis drove by a house fire on Dundas Street East in Trenton. He rescued a man from the main floor living room and returned to rescue a second man. Joined by his partner, Davis went back to rescue a third man; however, overcome by smoke, they were forced to leave the house. Quinte West Fire Department firefighters arrived on the scene and rescued the third resident. All three victims survived. Constable Davis was later treated for smoke inhalation.

Sergeant Jeff Fahey, Constable Claudius Koosees and Sergeant David Nakogee
Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service

On January 8, 2006, Sergeant Nakogee, Constable Koosees and then Constable Fahey were at the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service Detachment of Kashechewan First Nation when a fire broke out inside the building. They heard screams and immediately ran toward the cells where two young men were being held. Koosees was overcome in seconds by thick black smoke and collapsed. Nakogee saw Koosees lying unconscious on the floor with the back of his shirt on fire. He put out the fire with his hand and, with the help of Fahey, dragged the unconscious Koosees to safety. Regrettably, the two young men died in their cells. Koosees was flown to southern Ontario with serious burn injuries. Fahey sustained minor burns and Nakogee suffered smoke inhalation.

Constable Ryan Hutchison
Leamington Police Service

On August 21, 2005, Constable Hutchison responded to a 911 call at the PelDee Island ferry dock in Leamington. Far out from the breakwall in Lake Erie, two girls struggled to keep their heads above metre-high waves. Carrying a life ring, Hutchison and an ambulance attendant jumped into the water. They managed to reach the girls and brought them back to the dock. Both girls survived. But when Hutchison tried to climb the breakwall, he was repeatedly slammed up against it by the high waves. Nearing exhaustion, he was finally pulled up onto the dock by emergency response team members. Constable Hutchison was later treated for numerous cuts, abrasions and exhaustion.

Constable David Kerr
Shelburne Police Service

On February 13, 2006, Constable Kerr responded to a house fire in Shelburne. He met an elderly man whose face was covered with soot. The man told him that his wife, because of her poor physical condition, was trapped upstairs. Due to the intense heat and smoke, it took Kerr two attempts to successfully drag the unconscious woman back to safety. The woman recovered from her injuries after a week in intensive care. Kerr was not injured.
Provincial Constable Tammy Plummer

Ontario Provincial Police, Haldimand County Detachment

On June 7, 2005, Constable Tammy Plummer responded to the report of a drowning woman at a quarry in Hagersville. Constable Plummer saw the victim floating face down in the water. She immediately jumped in and swam to the woman. Plummer rolled the victim onto her back and started to pull her to the north side of the quarry. The unconscious victim was pulled out of the water and taken to West Haldimand Hospital, where she later died.

Sergeant Lawrence Zimmerman
Toronto Police Service

On the night of April 14, 2005, Sergeant Lawrence Zimmerman responded to a fire call at a six-plex building on Rutherford Avenue in Toronto. He ran into the building and saw a man trying to pull a badly burned woman down from the second floor landing. The man yelled that there was a baby inside the apartment. Zimmerman lifted the woman on his back and carried her out of the burning building. He cleared the way for firefighters to rescue a severely injured 18-month-old child. He also helped the other man – who had risked his life to get the woman out – to leave the building.

Senior Constable John Atkinson (posthumously)
Windsor Police Service

In the afternoon of May 5, 2006, Senior Constable John Atkinson saw two suspicious individuals in the parking lot of a Mac’s convenience store in Windsor. Following brief observations, he approached the two men and identified himself as a police officer. Without warning, one of the men produced a firearm and fired one shot striking Atkinson in the face. As both suspects began to flee the scene on foot, Atkinson drew his weapon and returned fire with one shot. Constable Atkinson was fatally wounded, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two persons were arrested within the hour and charged with murder and narcotic offences.