The Richmond News May 4, 2011 A15
Honouring Richmond RCMP, Richmond Fire Rescue, Coast Guard and BC Ambulance Services
RCMP
Police officers of the year: Dennis Wilson, Vanessa Christopherson custody. The man did not resist and was placed in the care of BC Ambulance. He received much needed assistance from the health care professionals and was able to telephone his thanks to the officers the following day. During this ordeal, Wilson and Christopherson remained calm, composed, focused and patient. They were brave beyond their duty and prevented a tragedy from happening. Nominees: Corporal Paul Hayes and the members on “A” Watch of Alexa’s team — constables Ed Bastien, Thomas Boyce, Adam Carmichael and Andrew Whitway. Richmond RCMP Bike Squad. Corporal Gene Hsieh and the five-member Richmond RCMP Drug Target Team. Corporal Dustine Rodier. Corporal James Lunny. Constables Daryl Morrison and Wilson Yung. Constable Tracey Chui.
CHUNG CHOW/RICHMOND NEWS
Const. Vanessa Christopherson and Sgt Dennis Wilson accept the award for Police Team, Officer or Auxiliary Member of the Year, nominated by the community.
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Staff Sgt. Murray MacAulay nominates Const. Vanessa Christopherson and Sgt. Dennis Wilson for their excellent team effort, communication skills and decisiveness in preventing a suicide attempt. Last July Christopherson was the first responder at the Arthur Laing Bridge where a visibly distressed man was seated on the ledge high above the river. Wilson arrived shortly thereafter. Seeing the officers, the man quickly moved out of reach and voiced his intention to kill himself. It took almost 50 minutes to talk the distressed man down. Though calmer, there was still an extreme risk of the male jumping off the bridge. The officers had to retain the man’s trust in order to prevent him from any sudden and lethal action. Then while waiting for a suicide councillor to arrive a rescue opportunity presented itself. Wilson tossed a cigarette to the man. When the man crouched to shield himself from the wind to light the cigarette, Wilson quickly took the troubled man into