Many Mounties think acts of bravery are part of the job description, but the senior ranks of the RCMP are still impressed.
Members of Northern B.C.'s royal force were honoured, Tuesday, at a ceremony in Prince George for long and meritorious service and for acts that went above and beyond their basic duties. Their commanding officers or regional commander had called them for recognition for bravery.
"My risk assessment told me I was not putting myself in jeopardy and certainly not this lady," said Cpl. John Grierson modestly, but the conditions of a rescue he helped with said other things.
Grierson is now stationed in Prince George as part of the North District Major Crimes Unit, but on May 2, 2009 he was a Constable with the 100 Mile House RCMP detachment. He was dispatched with Cpl. Jeffrey Pelley to the scene of a forest fire near 70 Mile House.
An industrial worker had become lost trying to escape the flames.
She was on a rural road in the bush, disorientated by smoke. Fire was closing in on multiple sides. She could call out on her cell phone, but landmarks were hard to see so guiding police to her location was almost impossible.
"[Pelley and Grierson] travelled though smoke and closed highways to get to the area," said Chief Supt. Barry Clark. "With only vague details of the female's whereabouts, the officers used their sirens and air horns while in communication with the woman, to locate her on foot approximately half a kilometre from the vehicle she was forced to abandon."
She was indeed surrounded by an out of control interface fire.
Perhaps aiding Grierson's confidence was his training beyond police skills. For 12 years he had been a volunteer firefighter in the Kelowna area.
The smoke was thick and the flames were so close they encroached on the roadway in places, but they eventually met up with the caller.
"She embraced me. She was happy to see someone in uniform," said Grierson.
He said the appreciation award was "nice, on a personal level," but more important was the morale all such recognition provides for him and his fellow members.
Other Mounties assembled for the event said these annual awards act as reminders that their skills are as unique as the situations they are called to - situations that almost always put them between danger and someone's personal safety or property damage.
CITATIONS
Feb. 10, 2007 - Const. Wes Yasinski attended a fire in Prince Rupert. He forced open the door, searched the burning building and removed occupants trapped inside. The fire was caused by faulty wiring due to a grow-op in the attic of the residence.
March 20, 2011 - Const. Marshall Thompson, Const. Paul Hogan and Const. Peter Fritsch's quick decisions and actions were credited with preventing the loss of a young life. A female youth was attempting suicide on the Kispiox Reserve near Hazelton but with their help, she was spared and is still alive.
Others at the ceremony were honoured for long service: 12 Mounties for 20 years; Staff Sgt. Major Doug Pack for 25 years; Staff Sgt. Tom Bethune, Supt. Roderick Booth, Insp. Patrick Egan, Sgt. Harvey Nelson and Cpl. (retired) Mike Stevenson for 30 years; Chief Supt. Barry Clark and Staff Sgt. Bryan Reid for 35 years.
