SURREY — Seven Surrey Mounties were awarded for outstanding service at a recent ceremony at B.C.'s RCMP headquarters.
Constable Amir Ocampo received a Commanding Officer's Certificate of Appreciation for Bravery for putting himself at risk to stop a violent home invasion in Surrey on June 8, 2012. Police surrounded a house where masked men had threatened and assaulted a family. Believing them to be armed, Ocampo and other officers entered the residence to stop the attack.
"His actions likely saved the victims from serious injury," Cpl. Scotty Schumann said.
Constables Nick Morden and Marcel Pinto received a Commanding Officer's Commendation for Outstanding Service and the St. John Lifesaving Award for helping to save the life of a man who'd been shot in the leg in Surrey, on July 21, 2014. The constables responded to a shooting at a house from which police had already seized a sub machine gun. The shooter had taken off and a woman covered in blood ran from the garage door when the police arrived. The officers found a man suffering from a point-blank shot to his leg, used a tourniquet and continued applying first aid until paramedics arrived.
"Constable Morden's and Pinto's readiness critical thinking and quick action contributed to saving a man's life," Schumann said.
Corporal Cecile McLellan has received the Commanding Officer's Commendation for Outstanding Service for her work in the Serena Vermeersch murder investigation. Schumann noted that McLellan "maximized her knowledge of the suspect to quickly locate him and assist in receiving admissions related to the offense."
Const. Michael Scoretz also received a Commanding Officer's Commendation for Bravery for stopping a man armed with a knife who was advancing on himself and a woman passer-by in Whalley on July 18, 2013. Scoretz was investigating an arson when the distraught man came up to the officer and asked him to kill him. While Scoretz was trying to calm him down the man turned his attention to the passerby and, fearing for her safety, fired two rounds at the man. The man survived his injuries.
"Constable Scoretz's bravery and presence of mind prevented the armed suspect from inflicting deadly harm on police and a civilian who happened into a serious unfolding event," Schumann said.
Constables Joseph Chidlow and Darryl Hofsink received the St. John Lifesaving Award for their efforts in trying to save a man who had been shot in the chest. The incident happened in Surrey on May 12, 2014. Despite their rapid response and use of first aid, he died.
tom.zytaruk@thenownewspaper.com