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Two children among recipients of Surrey RCMP Officer in Charge awards (with video)

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SURREY — Sixty-six heroic people were recognized for their actions with the Officer in Charge Awards on Wednesday, June 4 at the Surrey Arts Centre.

“Every year I look forward to this opportunity to publicly acknowledge the many acts of heroism and dedication displayed by the men and women of our detachment and community,” said Surrey RCMP Chief Supt. Bill Fordy. “I am very proud to honour officers and citizens who acted courageously and went that extra mile for our community.”

Among the 66 officers, civilians, support staff and volunteers who received honours were brave young ones, 12-year-old Genevieve Marcotte and nine-year-old John Marcotte, who saved their siblings from a house fire last November.

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When a sparking dryer caused the Marcottes’ home to go up in smoke while the parents were out running errands, John gathered his siblings and brought them to his older sister, Genevieve, who — having recently finished the babysitting certificate course — instructed her younger siblings to crawl down the stairs backwards, safely exiting the house, and seek refuge at their neighbour Tomislav Bagaric’s home.

Bagaric then went back into the Marcotte’s home, attempting to put out the fire, emptying two full fire extinguishers.

Bagaric, along with the two young Marcotte siblings, also received the OIC award for his brave actions and allowing the children to stay at his home while the fire blazed next door.

“Genevieve’s calm, decisive and heroic actions saved her family from a potentially dangerous situation,” Fordy said, before awarding her the OIC commendation. Fordy also commended Bagaric as he “went beyond the scope of being a good neighbour.”

“Their actions and those of their neighbour are in keeping with the highest standards of a Canadian citizen and the RCMP,” he said.

Other notable award recipients include an officer who responded to a fight and ended up detaining a homicide suspect with a loaded firearm, an electrician who assisted investigators in dismantling a sophisticated drug trafficking operation, a dispatcher who provided outstanding service during the apprehension of an aggressive suicidal male, and a Crown Counsel team who assisted police officers in concluding a successful cold case murder investigation.

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