A city police officer was one of 18 first responders to receive a provincial award for bravery.
The Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery and the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery are the province's highest honours in recognition of firefighters and police officers whose actions demonstrate outstanding courage.
Const. Tom Armstrong of the Thunder Bay Police Service was among this year’s recipients. He joined four firefighters and 13 fellow police officers who also received the provincial honours.
Const. Armstrong received the recognition for his efforts during a June 1, 2011 incident.
On that day, Const. Armstrong and his partner had responded to reports that two people had jumped into the Kaministiquia River.
When the officers arrived on scene they found a man holding onto a steel ladder that led to the water. He was calling for help when officers approached.
That man had a woman with him. That woman’s head was only above water because the man holding onto the ladder had secured her with his belt.
Const. Armstrong jumped into the river, without removing his equipment, and swam behind the woman where he treaded water and kept her head from going under the surface.
The water was only 5C at the time.
Police learned later that the man was suffering from a heart condition, and the woman was intoxicated.
It is believed that neither would have survived the ordeal had Const. Armstrong not jumped into the frigid waters.
Recipients of the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery are:
- Firefighter John Cargoe of the Barrie Fire and Emergency Service
- Firefighter Benjamin LeRoux of the Barrie Fire and Emergency Service
- Firefighter Matthew Richard Monkman of the Barrie Fire and Emergency Service
- Fire Chief Robert Lymburner of the Pelham Fire Services.
The recipients of the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery are:
- Detective Constable Denise Szachury of the Dryden Police Service
- Constable Jonathon R. Allen of the Dryden Police Service
- Constable Terry Menard of the Dryden Police Service
- Provincial Constable Colleen Benner of the Ontario Provincial Police, Highway Safety Division
- Provincial Constable Michael Gabriel Ficker of the Ontario Provincial Police, Highway Safety Division
- Provincial Constable David McLaren of the Ontario Provincial Police, Highway Safety Division
- Provincial Constable Bryan William Boshold of the Ontario Provincial Police, Bruce Peninsula Detachment
- Provincial Constable Donald Jon Malott of the Ontario Provincial Police, Bruce Peninsula Detachment
- Provincial Constable Trevor A. Lamont of the Ontario Provincial Police, Haldimand County Detachment
- Provincial Constable Scott Moir of the Ontario Provincial Police, Haldimand County Detachment
- Constable Joanna Styrczula of the Peel Regional Police
- Constable Alicia McGriskin of the Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service
- Constable Tom Armstrong of the Thunder Bay Police Service
- Constable Sheraz Arshad of the Toronto Police Service.
