Four officers receive the Chief Constable's Commendation award

Four officers have received the Chief Constable’s Commendation award for their work on a domestic abuse incident on Apedale Road, Chesterton.

PC Mathew Atkinson, PC Christopher Sweetmore, PC Daniel Rowely and PC Paul Waterhouse responded to reports of a distressed lady who was claiming that her ex-partner was harassing and threatening her.

Whilst obtaining a statement from the victim, her ex-partner and another man arrived at the address.

PC Atkinson and PC Sweetmore challenged the two men outside of the property, who then presented a handgun and threatened the officers. PC Atkinson called for urgent assistance of supporting officers and bravely followed the two men in-order to ensure the safety of the victim and the public, whilst unarmed.

The ex-partner continued to threaten officers and discharged the handgun near their proximity. The two officers continued to challenge the men despite the lethal threat presented to them.

PC Rowely and PC Waterhouse responded as supporting officers. Upon arrival to the scene, the officers could see that the ex-partner was holding a handgun. He was pointing the weapon in the direction of PC Atkinson and PC Sweetmore.

PC Rowely and PC Waterhouse challenged the two men without hesitation, putting themselves between lethal threat and their unarmed colleagues to disarm and arrest the two men.

Whilst this incident was unfolding, Inspector Jonathan Staite was the commander of the unit in the control room. Despite the rapidly unfolding events in which multiple officers were at risk of fatal injury, Inspector Staite remained rational and pragmatic under pressure and safely managed to control the incident and bring it to a stable conclusion. He said: “This is the incident you train for as Force Incident Manager but it is the incident you dread most of all.”

Two men were jailed in January 2020 after pleading guilty to firearms offences in relation to the incident.

Temporary Chief Constable Emma Barnett presented them with their certificate of commendation earlier this month.