Three local first responders are being recognized by the Ontario government.
The government is honouring 21 police officers and 13 firefighters with the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery and the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery. Hanover police constables Regan Bill and Devin Perdue are being recognized, as well as Blue Mountains Fire Chief Stephen Conn.
A release says the medals are the province’s highest honours and are given to police officers and firefighters who have demonstrated great courage in risking their lives to save the lives of others.
The two Hanover police officers being honoured with the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery, Constable Regan Bill and Constable Devin Perdue are being recognized for their brave actions during a large fire.
The province says, Constables Bill and Perdue were on patrol May 19th, 2022, when they saw smoke and flame pouring out from the Forum rooming house.
It says, “With little regard for their own personal safety, they entered the burning building to get tenants out before firefighters arrived. The police officers took the stairs to the second floor but were forced back by heat and overpowering smoke. On the main level they began pounding on doors, breaking locks, and directing awakened tenants to evacuate.”
Once outside, and with the fire department on the scene, Constables Perdue and Bill helped with secondary evacuations from neighbouring buildings at risk and kept distressed residents of the rooming house from running back inside to rescue pets. Approximately 70 people were inside at the time of the fire.
The government says, “Miraculously, no one perished because of the quick response and brave actions of Constable Devin Perdue and Constable Regan Bill.”
Blue Mountains Fire Chief Stephen Conn is a recipient of the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery.
The provincial government says, on January 11th, 2022, a family found themselves in a dangerous house fire. As the fire rapidly spread through the home, the couple was unable to reach their two young adult children who were trapped on the second floor.
The provincial government says, “By chance, Fire Chief Stephen Conn was nearby and rushed to help. He climbed a ladder to rescue the young adults, with one carried to safety, and the other assisted through the window to escape the fire. Without Fire Chief Conn’s swift response and bravery, the family would have suffered a tragic loss.”
Since 1975, 315 Ontario Medals for Police Bravery have been awarded and 260 Ontario Medals for Firefighter Bravery have been awarded since 1976.
The medals are presented at a special ceremony at Queen’s Park, hosted by the Lieutenant Governor.
Cst BILL & Cst PERDUE join a group of 375 police officers who have received this bravery award from the province since 1975. Congratulations to all of the recipients from across Ontario who selflessly put their own lives in peril for the protection and safety of others. pic.twitter.com/mHHz94xnQS
— Christopher Knoll (@ChiefKnoll) June 23, 2023
The recipients of the 2022 Ontario Medal for Police Bravery are:
Hanover Police Service
Constable Regan Bill
Constable Devin Perdue
Lac Seul Police Service
Constable Robert Lawrance
Niagara Regional Police Service
Constable Mike Delano
Constable Christian Gifford
Ontario Provincial Police
Provincial Constable Marc Nielsen
Provincial Constable Adam Rudd
Ottawa Police Service
Constable Iain Campbell
Constable Wayne Clayton
Constable Eric Douglas
Sault Ste. Marie Police Service
Constable Jeffrey Tait
Timmins Police Service
Sergeant Robin Carter
Constable Mark Lauzon
Toronto Police Service
Constable Johnny Amatuzio
Constable Steevens Audigé
Constable Rébecca Gaudreau
Constable Mihail Kochankov
Constable Laura Mackasey
Windsor Police Service
Senior Constable William “B.J.” Wiley
York Region Police Service
Staff Sergeant David Mitchell
Constable Mark Burnett
The recipients of the 2022 Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery are:
Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service
Volunteer Firefighter Robyn Judd
London Fire Department
Senior Qualified Firefighter Andrew Cadieux
Firefighter Alex Clements
Firefighter Apparatus Operator Matt Davis
Captain Randy Evans
Firefighter Apparatus Operator James Ferraro
Firefighter Stephen Hilton
Firefighter Ryan Kruk
Senior Qualified Firefighter Simon Mackintosh
Captain David Smith
Captain Ron Vermeltfoort
Firefighter Thomas Wenhardt
Blue Mountains Fire Services Department
Fire Chief Stephen Conn
