Police Bravery Awards 2008 - Region 8 winner - Metropolitan officers Tony Fitzpatrick and Neil Fearn
STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 10 PM THURSDAY JULY 10
NO APPROACH TO BE MADE TO WINNING OFFICER BEFORE 10PM
Metropolitan officers scoop regional bravery award
Detective Constables Tony Fitzpatrick and Neil Fearn clinched the title at The Dorchester on 10th July in the presence of Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith and a host of celebrities.
The annual awards are organised by the Police Federation of England and Wales and sponsored by The Sun Newspaper.
The Metropolitan officers received one of eight regional awards at the glittering award ceremony which followed a reception at 10 Downing Street where they, and 64 other nominees, met the Prime Minister.
Detective Constables Tony Fitzpatrick and Neil Fearn were part of a team carrying out surveillance in June 2006 on a man linked to several robberies and drugs related incidents.
The officers followed the man as he drove to an area in East London, where three cars joined him and formed a convoy. Detective Constable Fitzpatrick parked his car and set out on foot after them; however the suspect got out of his car and confronted the officer. He pointed a pistol at him and threatened to kill him with it.
Detective Constable Fitzpatrick took cover behind his car and as he did so, two more members of the convoy approached him carrying baseball bats. Detective Constable Fitzpatrick bravely followed the suspect and tried to spray him with CS to try and disarm him.
Detective Constables Fearn, Fitzpatrick and a colleague managed to arrest the men with the baseball bats. The main suspect attempted to escape and fired shots at the officers, injuring one unnamed officer. Detective Constable Fearn pursued the armed man, despite being fired at. The men managed to escape after a car picked them up but thankfully due to the bravery, team work and persistence of the officers involved, the men were arrested three days later.
Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation which organises the Police Bravery Awards, said:
“These officers deserve the highest praise for their quick thinking and heroic actions. They are a credit to the police service. We hope this award goes some way towards recognising their courageous act.”
Editor of The Sun Newspaper Rebekah Wade said:
“This police officer faced a terrifying and unpredictable situation. They showed extraordinary bravery in tackling such violent offenders despite knowing one of their colleagues had been shot. Their selfless courage deserves the highest praise and it is an honour for The Sun to have this opportunity to recognise the dedication of such heroic officers.”
NOTE TO EDITORS
For further details, or to arrange an interview with any of the officers, call Peter Smyth on 07967 354831. No approach should be made before 10 pm.
A video reconstruction and footage of the Downing Street reception and awards ceremony is available from 9am on Friday 11th July by calling Lorna Carmichael on 020 7782 4322.
Photographs of the nominees with the Prime Minister will be available at 9.00 am on Friday 13th July from the Sun picture desk. Contact Adrian Smith on 020 7782 4199.
For further information contact: Rachel Barnet/Una Carney at the Police Federation on 0137 235 2071 or Lorna Carmichael at the Sun Newspaper on 07836 340423.
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