Two Halton Regional Police constables, along with two members of Hamilton Regional Police, were among the first responders honoured this week by the Government of Ontario.
The Ontario Medal for Police Bravery and the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery are the province’s highest honours and are awarded to those who have demonstrated great courage in risking their lives to save others.
Constables Lance Broderick and Dan Pinkney of the Halton Regional Police and Detective Sergeant Sara Beck and Detective Robert Di Ianni of the Hamilton Police Service were recognized for their role in subduing an armed suspect in Hamilton in 2022.
The incident began early on September 12 when Toronto Police Constable Andrew Hong was shot and killed at a coffee shop during a break from his police motorcycle training course. The assailant carjacked a vehicle, shooting and critically injuring the driver. He fled to an auto repair shop in Milton where he shot three more people, killing two.
The assailant then traveled to Hamilton, where Beck and Di Ianni confronted him at the Hamilton Cemetery on York Boulevard. The assailant opened fire and they rushed to find cover and secure the situation. Broderick and Pinkney of the Halton Regional Police Service Tactical Rescue Unit heard the gunfight and immediately rushed to help. Together, the four officers subdued the suspect, preventing further harm, and administered first aid until emergency medical services arrived.
Additional Ontario Medal of Bravery recipients were:
- Constable Trevor Taylor of Brantford Police Services
- Constable Matthew Tavano of the Niagara Regional Police Service
- Police Constable Vyacheslav Biryukov of the Toronto Police Service
- Constable Jason Causton and Constable Chris Robb of the Waterloo Regional Police Service
- Sergeant Matt Capel-Cure of the Windsor Police Service
- Captain Jesse Beaudrow of the Brock Township Fire Department
- Captain Jeff Clayton of Brampton Fire and Emergency Services; Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Fairbarn (formerly Captain) and Firefighter Brandon DiMonte of Caledon Fire and Emergency Service
- Firefighter Mackenzie Grosvenor of the Town of Greater Napanee Fire Department
- Police Constable Andrew Court and Police Constable Vesselin Ivanov of the Toronto Police Service; Firefighter Eric Hannah and Captain David Tschinkel of Toronto Fire Services
- Constable Blair Corsaut, Sergeant John Dance and Constable Brent Thomas of the London Police Service and 35 firefighters from the London Fire Department (an additional four firefighters were previously honoured for their role in a 2020 structure fire rescue)
“The courage these exceptional police officers and firefighters have displayed is truly remarkable,” said the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in a news release.
“Each one of the recipients has gone well above and beyond their duties, and we are proud to recognize the impact of their selfless service on their communities and on our province.”
Click here for complete details on all of this year's award recipients.