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Central Region OPP recognizes 'extraordinary' heroism

'We ask ordinary people to do extraordinary things. They stand up to that challenge each and every day. Their dedication to duty is unparalleled,' says OPP commissioner

Brave men and women who protect our community were honoured with one of the highest honours in policing on Thursday.

“This is our opportunity to recognize our members as well as members of the community who have saved people’s lives or have done their best to save the life of somebody in need,” OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said at the Central Region Awards presentation at Hawk Ridge Golf Club in Severn Township.

The goal of the event is to show OPP members that their selfless acts of heroism are appreciated, Carrique said.  

“We ask ordinary people to do extraordinary things,” he said. “They stand up to that challenge each and every day. Their dedication to duty is unparalleled.”  

Among the many award winners in Central Region were Det. Const. Benjamin Fontaine from the Huronia West detachment and Nikolas Walmsley of Orillia OPP who received the Commissioner’s Letter of Commendation and St. John Ambulance Award for saving the life of a man who nearly died of a drug overdose.

“We were dispatched to a suspicious person call at the time,” Fontaine explained. “I recall there was a man laying down in the ditch on the side of the road.”

When Fontaine arrived on the scene, he ran over to the man, who was unresponsive. His lips were blue and he was carrying a device used to smoke drugs.

“I knew immediately it was a suspected drug overdose,” he said. “At that time, I administered a Narcan and commenced CPR.”

Walmsley then arrived on the scene and took the advice of a paramedic to administer two more doses of Narcan.

“He came around and started responding,” Walmsley said. “Paramedics arrived soon afterwards and took him to hospital for further treatment."

The quick, vital work of the two officers saved the man’s life.

“That’s why we joined this job,” Walmsley said. “Our number one priority is the protection of life and limb.”

Fontaine agreed.

“Even saving one life makes an entire career,” Fontaine said. “It feels fantastic and I’m sure the family of the gentleman we saved is appreciative.”

Det. Const. Jay Pilon of the Orillia Community Street Crime Unit and Const. Kristine Stanway of Orillia OPP were also honoured with the Commissioner’s Letter of Commendation and St. John Ambulance Award during Thursday’s ceremony.

“We responded to a motor vehicle collision and the highway was shut down because of it,” Pilon explained. “We had tow operators on scene to move some of the vehicles and during that one of the tow operators actually suffered a massive heart attack.”

Because of the highway closure, there was a significant delay in paramedics making it to the tow truck operator in distress, leaving Pilon and Stanway with no choice but to act quickly.

“We performed CPR for at least half an hour on the side of the highway,” Pilon said. “We tried really hard, but unfortunately it just wasn’t enough,” Stanway added.

The two officers knew the man quite well as he had assisted with many other calls. It's incidents like this that makes the job tough, she said.

“As a shift, we always talk about things that we go through,” Pilon said. “We have that open dialogue and lean on our spouses in these times.”

Despite falling short in their efforts to revive the man, Pilon and Stanway will be ready for the next time their efforts are needed.

“We have tunnel vision on what our duty really is,” Stanway said. “We know we have to do it, and it all just kind of falls into place.”

Here is a full list of those recognized at Thursday’s event:

Police Exemplary Service Medal (20 years)

PC Brian Anderson

PC Isaac Austin

PC Robert Babcock

Sgt. David Brown

PC Erik Chamberlain

PC Amanda Chilvers

PC David Epp

Det.-Sgt. Shaun Filman

PC Steven Fox

PC Andrew Freeston

DC Stephen Gray

PC Donald James

Sgt. Darcy Jibb

PC Jonathon King

PC Jennifer Lajoie

PC Bridget Laurin

PC Greg Leclair

PC Keith Lindley

PC Derek Lotton

PC Michael MacNeil

DC Trevor McLaughlin

PC Robert Mosher

Sgt. Douglas Murphy

DC Tyler Pratt

Sgt. Robin Rogers

Sgt. Eric Steele

PC Dana Thorn

PC Jeffery Vella

PC Edward Warman

PC Spencer Whomersley

DC (Retired) Greg Yacula

Sgt. Ezra Zugehoer

Police Exemplary Service Medal — first bars (30 years)

PC (retired) Lynda Cranney

Sgt. Matthias Hanes

PC Ronald (Trevor) McKean

PC (retired) Brett McRoberts

PC Gregory Stokes

PC Scott Williams

Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal

Sp. Cst. William Cork

Sp. Cst. Lee Groves

Sp. Cst. Melissa Hulsman

Sp. Cst. Barbara Purdy

Auxiliary Service Recognition

Aux. Sgt. Peter Brown

Civilian Service (20 years/30 years)

Michael Carr

Lisa Darch

Lillian Duhig

Gregory Foster

Patricia Haza

Mary Jensen

Laurie-Dawn Keillor

Kim Knochelmann

Brenda Marasse

Deborah McCall

Tracy Moore

Louise Pendleton

Yvonne Saillou (retired)

Diandra Shukaris

Marc Sparrow

Carol Sykes

Kimberley Waterbury

Dawn Shearer (retired)

Marilyn Van Maren

Elena Vizza

Commissioner’s Commendations

PC Gurpal Bhatti — Outstanding Investigation

PC Gurprett Singh — Outstanding Investigation

PC Dean Rodd — Community Service

Staff Sgt. Daniel Colling — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Jeffrey Walter — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Jonathon King — Exemplary Performance of Duty

Sgt. Ryan Wier — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Adam Green — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Christina Tomlinson — Exemplary Performance of Duty

DC Craig Frasier — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Daniel Denhartogh — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC David Manson — Exemplary Performance of Duty

Sgt. David Moffatt — Exemplary Performance of Duty

Sgt. Dean Ronson — Exemplary Performance of Duty

Sgt. Ezra Zugehoer — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Gregory Bladon — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC James Reading — Exemplary Performance of Duty

Mr. Jeffrey Soley — Exemplary Performance of Duty

Sgt. John Meaker — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Lynda Cranney — Exemplary Performance of Duty

DC Mark Rikaby — Exemplary Performance of Duty

Sgt. Matthias Hanes — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Randal Gardner — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Robert McKenzie — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Stefan Racine — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Steven Collins — Exemplary Performance of Duty

PC Todd Wright — Exemplary Performance of Duty

Staff Sgt. Mitchell Perry — Exemplary Performance of Duty

Commissioner’s Letters and St. John Ambulance Awards

DC Benjamin Fontaine — Commissioner’s Letter and St. John Award

PC Nikolas Walmsley — Commissioner’s Letter and St. John Award

Sgt. Mathew Caissie — Commissioner’s Letter and St. John Award

PC Keith Lindley — Commissioner’s Letter

PC Ryan Drazilov — Commissioner’s Letter

PC Billy John Cooper — Commissioner’s Letter and St. John Award

PC Shelby Russell — Commissioner’s Letter and St. John Award

PC Ryan Jannaway — Commissioner’s Letter and St. John Award (two awards)

PC Zach Buchan — Commissioner’s Letter and St. John Award

PC Kristine Stanway — Commissioner’s Letter and St. John Award

DC Jay Pilon - File # 2021-2598 — Commissioner’s Letter

Commissioner’s Citations for Lifesaving

Alan Fawn Sr. — Citation for Lifesaving and St. John Award

Alan Fawn Jr. — Citation for Lifesaving and St. John Award

Joh Brackett — Citation for Lifesaving

Elle Hawtin — Citation for Lifesaving

Katherine Morris — Citation for Lifesaving

Geordie Newlands — Citation for Lifesaving

Matthew LeNormand — Citation for Lifesaving

Justin Bifolchi — Citation for Lifesaving

Jon Duff — Citation for Lifesaving

Lindy Gale — Citation for Lifesaving

Enid Wray — Citation for Lifesaving

Ryan Thomas — Selfless Actions

John Thomson — Selfless Actions

Alicia Smith — Citation for Lifesaving

Kristina Kostuk — Citation for Lifesaving

PC Jennifer Lajoie — Citation for Lifesaving

Lauren Kowalski — File # 2021-2401 — Citation for Lifesaving

Commissioner’s Citations for Bravery

PC Amanda Capone — Citation for Bravery

PC Daryl McColl — Citation for Bravery

Kevin Schell (deceased) — Citation for Bravery

Darlene Sawyer — Citation for Bravery

Julia McBurney — Citation for Bravery

Jessica Pletch — Citation for Bravery

Michael Burr — Citation for Bravery

Aidan Quinn — Citation for Bravery and St. John Award

Youth Foundation

PC Brian (Joe) Chamberlain — OPP Youth Foundation Award

Acting Sgt. Ted Dongelmans — OPP Youth Foundation Award


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Tyler Evans

About the Author: Tyler Evans

Tyler Evans got his start in the news business when he was just 15-years-old and now serves as a video producer and reporter with OrilliaMatters
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