The S-Files

To An Unknown Police Officer

The NZ Herald is reporting on a heroic rescue of a drowning man by a police officer.  The details, as recounted, are:

• At 6pm on the 12 August  a van plunged off Tauranga's Maungatapu Bridge.
• A 23 year old passenger escaped the sinking van, but was unable to stay afloat due to injuries
• A 53 year old police officer arrived at the crash scene, apprehended the person in difficulty in the water.
• He stripped off and dived in, reached the drowning man, calmed him and turned him on his back.
• He drew him to the shallows while being carried along by the tidal current.

Unfortunately the driver of the van did not survive.  The saved man would have certainly drowned, had not the police officer intervened.

Western Bay of Plenty Police Inspector Clifford Paxton praised the efforts of his officer, who was resting at home yesterday.  "What he did was pretty outstanding. He evaluated the situation, believed he could make a difference, and clearly he did make a difference."

ContraCelsum is pleased to bestow an S-Award on this unnamed officer--for actions in the course of duty that were Selfless, Saving, and Sacrificial.  You are a credit to your profession.