Police and members of the public commended during special ceremony

IN an award ceremony last night, officers and members of the public were awarded for exceptional acts of selflessness, compassion and bravery.

The annual Chief Constable Commendation Ceremony took place at the force headquarters in Hinchingbrooke with awards going to recipients who had gone above and beyond, enriching the service that the Constabulary provide to the county.

Chief Constable Alec Wood praised those who had excelled as he presented the awards.

He said: “The awards recognise and reward the outstanding efforts of individuals who deliver our mission, vision and values throughout their role and go above and beyond the call of duty.

“I’m incredibly proud of all our colleagues across the force and my thanks and congratulations go to each and every one of the recipients for their dedication to protecting the people of Cambridgeshire.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite added: “It was a huge privilege to meet everyone last night. To hear the stories of what they have done is hugely inspirational. I would like to add my thanks to everyone for the remarkable efforts they have made to keep our communities safe.”

Detective Constable Amanda Sylvester was recognised for delivering the highest possible service to the victims of a serious sex offender. She carried out a detailed and diligent investigation into the historic abuse which resulted in the offender being found guilty of all 13 indictments and receiving a 15 year sentence.

PC Lloyd Groves was commended for his bravery and lifesaving actions. While off duty and with no regard for his own safety he jumped into the River Nene to assist a woman until the fire service arrived, almost certainly saving her life.

Teenagers Rhys Paterson and Jessica Nightingale were commended for saving a girl’s life and for the bravery they showed.

April Gollings, Lynne Holden, Nik Thomas, Ed McNeill, Chris O’Brien, Jonathan Black, Chris Postill and Andy Gipp are commended for their personal drive, outstanding service support, dedication and professionalism towards creating tuServ – a mobile application which allows officers to access multiple systems from one app.