PCs’ bravery in dealing with man with knife is recognised
TWO police officers have been formally recognised for the way they dealt with a domestic incident in which a man threatened them with a knife in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
PCs Francesca Babbe and David du Port received the Chief Inspector Richard Mauger award for outstanding achievement at the Law Enforcement annual awards 2018 night at Les Cotils.
They were among six people who received Chief Officer’s Commendations – the highest internal law enforcement accolade achievable.
The two officers attended the property at about 1am in response to a call from the man’s partner, knowing a child was present.
Due to the man’s aggressive demeanour, the officers directed the woman to move behind them for her safety.
The man continued to make threats and drew a knife with a 4in. blade from a kitchen drawer.
Despite being told several times to drop it and calm down, after making eye contact with PC Babbe, he pointed the knife at her then took a step towards her.
PC Babbe thought she was going to be stabbed and both officers feared for their safety. PC Babbe stepped backwards with a hand outstretched to defend herself.
After PC du Port used Pava incapacitating spray, the man bent forward, causing the kitchen door to close. PC du Port was forced outside, leaving his colleague trapped in the kitchen with the man. Officers gained control of the situation when Pava spray was used a second time and the man was handcuffed.
He was later jailed for the offence, with a Crown Advocate describing PC Babbe to the court as ‘a model of calm’.
The award recognised both officers’ courage, bravery and quick thinking.
PC Babbe, who has been in the force for five years, said it was the first time she had faced an incident of such volatility.
‘Everything happened so quickly and it was very scary,’ she said. ‘Thankfully such incidents are rare here.’
An officer for two years, PC du Port said it was something that would stick in his mind for a long time.
‘We go to a lot of domestic incidents which often pan out our way, but there was a sudden escalation that we had to deal with on that occasion.
‘We are all [police officers] trained to the same level and I’m sure that any of our colleagues would have acted in the same way had they been called that night.’
Others who received Chief Officers' Commendations
. Crime scene investigator Neil France for his work in the recovery of human remains from undergrowth in deteriorating weather conditions.
The condition of the remains meant visual identification was not possible yet high quality forensic evidence was obtained.
. Detective Constable Julie Smith was commended for her work in two investigations which led to the convictions of two sex offenders – one of whom was an historic one.
. In May last year, PCs Arran Kenealy and Craig Sharman were on mobile patrol at L’Aumone, Castel, when a highly distressed woman ran towards them and said that her father, who was in her car, had suffered a heart attack.
Both officers were commended for their quick thinking and application of first aid skills, which contributed to the patient’s successful resuscitation.
