Police Bravery Awards 2008

Constable Mark Rudd

In October 2006, three Metropolitan officers were called to a house after a mother reported that her son had trashed their home and was now threatening to take his own life. Knowing the distressed man was armed with a knife the officers entered his bedroom with shields and protective gear on, however they found his room empty.

The officers were aware from previous encounters with the man that he was violent and unpredictable. They decided to search the lift and as they removed the latch they heard the clicking noise of a gun and the man screamed that he would shoot them if they didnąt get out of his house. The officers withdrew, deciding to wait for the armed response unit. However the man came out wielding the pistol threatening to shoot them.

As he attempted to flee the garden Constable Mark Rudd tackled him to the ground and took the pistol off him. Constable Rudd dislocated his shoulder during this but his brave actions and quick thinking prevented anyone else from getting hurt.


Detective Constable Neil Fearn and Detective Constable Tony Fitzpatrick

During routine surveillance, events took a nasty turn when Metropolitan officers were fired at and attacked with baseball bats.

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.


Constable Peter Dack, Constable Imran Patel and Sargeant Kris Wright

Three unarmed metropolitan officers bravely captured a man after he robbed shopkeeper at gun-point.

In August 2007 Sergeant Kris Wright who when stopped at traffic lights in East London spotted a man holding a cashier at gunpoint and robbing the shop. Sergeant Wright then saw the man leave the shop and run down an adjoining street.

The officer followed the man in his car and then confronted him. The man then placed his hand on a firearm which he was keeping in the waistband of his tracksuit. Despite the obvious risks, Sergeant Wright drove towards the man and shouted at him to stand still. The man ran off through a narrow road followed by Sergeant Wright on foot. Constables Imran Patel and Peter Dack responded to his call for assistance and joined Wright on his chase. The man then attempted to jump a high fence but the officers managed to catch him and pull him down.

Constable Patel saw that the man was holding the gun and told him to put it down. The man responded saying it wasnąt real so the officer grabbed the gun off him and threw it out of reach. The officers successfully restrained the man and their brave actions meant nobody was hurt or injured.