Police present Meritorious Awards

Nov 3 2011 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

ANOTHER ten worthy winners are also set to be given their awards.

Among them are Sergeant Stewart MacKenzie and his son Craig, from Seafield, who are receiving a Chief Constable's Commendation and a Lothian and Borders Police Meritorious Award respectively.

The pair helped detain a man suspected of a break-in at Seafield in April last year.

Sergeant MacKenzie was off duty when he saw two men acting suspiciously.

He challenged them and when he wasn’t satisfied with their answer went to a house and called police.

He got home and told Craig what had happened and they both went out to try and find the men.

When police arrived and decided to search the house, Sergeant MacKenzie and Craig kept a watch on the front of the building, and saw a man jump out of the window.

They chased the man and Craig managed to grab him as he ran past.

The father and son restrained the man until officers took over and the man was found to be carrying stolen jewellery.

A police spokeswoman said: “Sergeant MacKenzie's diligence and quick thinking while off-duty is to be commended, and Craig's swift response and tenacity under pressure meant he was instrumental in the arrest of the suspect.”

John Martin and Cliff Uttley will also receive Lothian and Borders Police Meritorious Awards and certificates from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.

The men were driving through Livingston in May last year, when they saw a house was ablaze.

They stopped immediately and went to help a man who told them there were other people in the upstairs bedrooms.

Despite the thick black smoke, both men ran up the stairs to try and find them.

After searching the house three times they were satisfied that no one was trapped inside the house.

The police commended their actions and a spokeswoman said: “John and Cliff's actions are commendable as despite the obvious danger, they were willing to go into a burning building to rescue people they thought were inside.”

A Lothian and Borders Police Meritorious Award is being presented to Aaron Love after he rescued two youngsters from a river in Livingston last May.

Aaron was out cycling when a group of kids flagged him down.

Two of their friends were in the water and had got into difficulty in the water.

Aaron didn't hesitate in going into the water himself to rescue the brother and sister.

The police said: “Aaron's willingness to help and his quick response meant both the youngsters emerged unscathed from their experience. We are pleased to recognise his bravery.”

John Paterson will receive a Lothian and Borders Police Meritorious Award after he went to the aid of a woman in distress at Bangour Village Hospital.

John was on patrol as a security officer at the hospital when he saw a woman in an agitated state on the wrong side of some railings.

He immediately went to talk to her to try and calm her down, and called 999 at the same time.

While he did this, the woman got into a car and drove off.

John was able to give officers a description of the car, and the direction it was heading in.

This meant officers were able to trace the woman quickly and take her to hospital for treatment.

The police said: “John's calm and sensitive approach provided officers with vital information to trace the woman, and meant she did not do herself any serious harm.”

Constable Stuart Robertson and Special Constable Paul Fitzsimmons are being awarded Chief Constable's Commendations after they arrested a man who had attempted two armed robberies in Broxburn last February.

Constable Robertson and Special Constable Fitzsimmons were on patrol when they were called to a newsagents where a man had threatened a shopkeeper with a knife.

Moments later another call was received about a man having been stabbed at a supermarket nearby.

Both officers ran to the store and saw the man standing with a knife to someone's neck.

He had already stabbed this man twice in the leg.

The officers calmly approached the man and demanded he dropped the knife, which he did eventually.

The police spokeswoman said: “Their prompt response in both instances meant a violent armed suspect, who was threatening members of the public, was arrested quickly and we are delighted to recognise this achievement.”

Lothian and Borders Police Meritorious Awards are being presented to Ian Millar and Alan Rae after they detained a man who was robbing Ian's house in Blackburn last February.

He chased the man outside, calling his neighbour Alan to help as he passed.

They eventually got a hold of the man and managed to restrain him until police arrived.

When police arrived the man was found to have stolen property from a number of houses.

“This prolific housebreaker was detained thanks to the bravery and courage of Ian and Alan and we are delighted to recognise this,” said police.