Five people from the Battleford area received recognition for bravery in three separate incidents in 2021. (submitted photo/Royal Canadian Humane Association)

By Ian Roach

BRAVERY AWARDS

Five people from Battlefords recognized for bravery

Oct 17, 2022 | 10:26 AM

Five people from the Battlefords were recognized for bravery in Saskatoon Friday afternoon. The awards are for three separate incidents that took place in 2021.

The first incident was March 7, 2021. RCMP Const. Josh Trefry responded to a call about a woman who had climbed over a concrete barricade on a highway overpass near North Battleford.

Trefry was the first police officer to arrive. He found Misty Brown talking with the woman on the bridge. Trefry reached over the barricade and grabbed the woman around her torso.

From left to right – Sgt. William Picard, Misty Brown, Const. John Trefry, and Lt. Gov. Russ Mirasty, pictured at an award for bravery ceremony in Saskatoon (Submitted photo/Royal Canadian Humane Association).

Brown helped Constable Trefry secure the woman. Both Trefry and Brown continued speaking to the woman, but she was still over the barricade.

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Sgt. William Picard arrived and leapt over the barricade to be on the same side as the woman, putting his own life at risk. Picard secured the woman and helped Trefry and Brown get her back to the road.

Picard (a corporal at the time of this incident) received the bronze medal for bravery. Trefry and Brown both received an honourary testimonial certificate.

The second incident took place On May 13, 2021. RCMP Const. Japheth Walters responded to a report of a distraught man on the Battleford bridge. When Walters got to the bridge, he found the man sitting on the edge with a 30-foot drop below.

Walters approached the man and was able to grab hold of him just as he tried to jump. Walters placed the man in custody, and he was taken to hospital for treatment. Walters received the bronze medal for bravery. He was not able to attend the ceremony in Saskatoon last Friday and will be presented with his award later this month.

The third incident is from Nov. 17, 2021. Battlefords RCMP Const. Jordan MacKenzie was called to a house fire on Saulteaux First Nation. When he arrived, he was told that a woman was trapped in the basement.

Firefighters entered the house and reported they found the woman but could not attend to her as they were busy with the fire.

Const. Jordan MacKenzie pictured with Lt. Gov. Russ Mirasty. Cst. MacKenzie received a silver medal for bravery (Submitted photo/Royal Canadian Humane Association).

When the smoke cleared briefly, MacKenzie saw the woman lying face down and tried to rescue her. He couldn’t lift the woman and eventually had to get out of the house because of the thick smoke and flames.

Soon, the firefighters who were in the basement called out for assistance to help with the woman. MacKenzie got a ladder from the fire truck. Using it as a makeshift stretcher, the firefighters were able to get the woman out of the house with the help of MacKenzie and Const. Japheth Walters.

Both officers began CPR on the victim. Unfortunately, they were not successful, and the woman died from her injuries. MacKenzie was treated for smoke inhalation. As a result of his actions, he received the silver medal for bravery.

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Ian.Roach@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: IanRoachSK