Policing’s finest recognised at Sheffield awards ceremony
FIVE front line officers from Sheffield have been commended for their bravery in rescuing an elderly man from a house fire – one of 18 commendations at the district’s fifth annual police awards.
PC Wes Turner, PC Paul Ward , PC Bryan McCoy, PC Taz Yaqoob and PC Jodie Akeroyd, pictured from second left to right, helped rescue a man from a house fire on Adlington Road in Southey Green over Christmas 2013.
The 98-year-old would have died were it not for their actions, the Chief Fire Officer has since said.
PC Akeroyd took home the Student Officer of the Year Award following her involvement in two serious incidents in one day, a high-risk missing person investigation and an attempted murder.
The Community Engagement Award went to Sgt Katherine Wallis in recognition of her leadership of Operation Makesafe in Sheffield, a partnership project tackling child sexual exploitation in local hotels.
The Sheffield West Tasking Team, won the Team Performance Award while a second Team Performance Award went to the East Safer Neighbourhood Area. T/Special Sgt Carina Glover was named Special Constable of the year, Det Sgt Shaf Rehman won the Leadership Award and Sgt Jane Fidlerʼs Sheffield Sexual Exploitation Service took home the Community Focus award.
The Integrated Offender Management Team, led by Sgt Richard Wallis, won the Partnership Working Award and the Diversity Award went to Sergeant Brendan Pakenham.
Sgt Mark Oughton won the Trevor Harvey Investigation Award and PC Jonathan Greaves was given the Customer Satisfaction Award.
DC Patrick Whaley, due to retire in June this year after 29-years service, won the Lifetime Achievement Award for still displaying the same ʻcan doʼ attitude in obtaining and developing intelligence as when he joined.
Former PC Jon Barker, who retired in February 2014, was named the Community Officer of the Year and DC Simon Taylor was named Sheffieldʼs Officer of the Year.
Ch Supt David Hartley, District Commander for Sheffield, said: “The awards ceremony brings forward officers and staff who have excelled in serving their communities whether it is for bravery, investigation or simply going the extra mile.
“It is a night of enormous pride for me as we take time to recognise the difficult challenge faced by Sheffield staff, which is so often unnoticed day to day.”
The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Shaun Wright, added: “I know that every officer and staff member, both here and across the force, work incredibly hard to make our communities safer – often going above and beyond the call of duty – and it is vital that we recognise their efforts. I would like to say a big well done to everyone involved.”