Photo Credit: Thanks to the office of the secretary to the Governor General of Canada
Photo Credit: Thanks to the office of the secretary to the Governor General of Canada
Congratulations to Montreal police officers Sergeant François Paquette and Constable Simon Rivard who were presented with medals of bravery last month. His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, presented the medals to honour both men with the decoration for saving someone’s life in hazardous circumstances.The award ceremony took place at the Residence of the Governor General at the Citadelle of Québec, on Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Both men were present.
The officers also received Quebec’s meritorious service medal last year.
The two police officers received both honours for their actions in Verdun on June 23, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. A woman had purposely driven her wheelchair Saint Lawrence River, just behind the Verdun hospital. By the time the two men arrived, the woman was several metres from shore. The strong current and the inability of the woman to keep her head out of the water meant that both officers had to get into the river to save her and Pacquette gave the woman CPR.
Paquette now works out of Station 12 in Westmount.
SPVM spokespeople couldn’t provide any information about what has happened to the woman since the incident.
Note: This story appeared in the Suburban on October 17.
