Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston, Sergeant Jamie Cooper, Chief Constable Nick Dean and Fed rep Stu Taylor.
A ‘humbled’ Cambridgeshire cop has reflected on this year’s ‘awesome’ Police Bravery Award ceremony.
Sergeant Jamie Cooper attended last night’s (11 July) event in London, with his partner Kerri.
He was nominated for an award after saving the life of a man threatening to jump from the 20ft-high Millennium Bridge in Peterborough.
Reflecting on the ceremony, Jamie said: “The evening was incredible. It was so humbling reading through and listening to the other nominations.
“Feel really honoured to be here. I still feel a bit shocked that I was there myself. The event was awesome.”
Jamie was joined by Fed rep and detective lead Stu Taylor, as well as Chief Constable Nick Dean and Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston.
“To attend this year’s event on behalf of Cambridgeshire Police Federation was an absolute privilege and honour. Of course, it’s a shame that Jamie didn’t win but to be nominated and recognised for his proud actions is special enough,” said Stu.
“Everyone at Cambridgeshire is extremely proud of Jamie. He is a credit to the Force and a credit to the Federation.”
This year’s Region 4 winner was Lincolnshire.
Acting national chair Tiff Lynch opened this year’s awards ceremony, which was in its 29th year.
Addressing the audience, she said: “Tonight, we will hear extraordinary stories of bravery. Officers who will say, ‘it’s just part of the job’, but it’s not just part of the job it’s going above and beyond the requirements of the job, and tonight we get the chance to recognise and thank those officers.”
The new Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper and the recently appointed Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson DBE were also in attendance. Earlier in the day, the pair welcomed all nominations to Downing Street for an exclusive garden reception ahead of the event.
Ms Cooper, who revealed it was the 14th Police Bravery Awards that she had attended, said: “The reason I’ve attended so many Police Bravery Awards is because I think it’s so important to respect and recognise the work you do.
“And because the stories are always so inspirational, often so difficult, the incredibly difficult situations you have faced.
“The extreme violence that you will have had to work towards, the dangerous rescues that so many of you have undertaken.”
She thanked the officers present, as well as those across the county and the partners, relatives and families of cops whose support ‘makes the work they do possible’.
Later on in the evening, Dame Johnson also thanked all officers in the room.
“To you and all your colleagues, for what you do to keep the public safe, thank you. I was struck by the impressive people you are. A phrase that stuck out for me is ‘forever going into the unknown’.
“Your families must be so proud of you. I am so proud of you. To those here tonight, be proud of what you do. It could not matter more.”
The ceremony was hosted by TV presenter Mark Durden-Smith, with Strictly Come Dancing star Kai Widdrington also in attendance.
The overall winners on the night were a pair of Met officers, PCs Alannah Mulhall and Joe Gerrard, who were stabbed multiple times in Leicester Square, while protecting members of the public.
The annual event is organised by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) and is sponsored by Police Mutual.