“…Bates observed a small airplane flying nearby that unexpectedly lost control and plummeted into the river. Without hesitation…despite the freezing rapids, he waded in chest deep to the aircraft fuselage, in hopes of rescuing the victims and providing medical attention…The other man was airlifted by STARS to hospital where he made a full recovery”.
This is not a movie. This is an Edmonton Police Officer (EPS) leaving his family on the side of the road from a vacation trip to help in an accident.
Some call it a job, some call it a pathway to danger, but EPS Officers say it is the desire to serve.
When someone is shot, or stabbed, or a building is on fire, or an accident happens, or when something bad happens, who do we call? Most definitely we call the police. To most people it is the job of the police to keep us safe, and to the police officers, it is a job that they do with the utmost pride, when need be, and in some cases, wrestling with danger.
Police officers are trained to keep us safe but the bravery and courage to take on the bad guys spitting out bullets, or the guy wielding a knife, or a burning building, or help in an accident is a testament of the determination to serve. For this bravery and courage, some EPS Officers were presented with awards on October 4, 2019, at Edmonton Expo Centre. The Edmonton Police Service Recognition Ceremony was followed by the Edmonton Police Commission Citizen Awards.
Participating in the ceremony was Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee, Tim O’Brien, Chair of the Edmonton Police Commission, Councillor Sarah Hamilton, City of Edmonton, and Mr. Brad Rutherford, MLA for Leduc-Beaumont, on behalf of the Justice and Solicitor General. EPS officers were presented with the National Police Exemplary Service Medal and Alberta Police Officer Long Service Recognition Medal for 20, 30, and 40 years of service. He also presented the Senior Officer Commissions, Officer Safety Award, Commendations, and the Medal of Valour.
The Medal of Valour is the highest award that may be bestowed upon a member of the EPS for outstanding acts of personal heroism, or the most conspicuous acts of courage, in circumstances of extreme peril and personal hazard to life, during the intelligent and appropriate execution of their duty. After 10 years, two EPS Officers became recipient of the Medal of Valour; Constable Michael Bates, and Constable Michael Chernyk.
“On July 21, 2019, Constable Michael Bates and his wife were returning from a trip in Jasper National Park on Highway 16 along the Athabasca River. While driving, Bates observed a small airplane flying nearby that unexpectedly lost control and plummeted into the river.
Without hesitation, he stopped his vehicle near the river, and proceeded down the embankment. Despite the freezing rapids, he waded in chest deep to the aircraft fuselage, in hopes of rescuing the victims and providing medical attention.
Bates located two men in the cockpit, one who appeared to be breathing, and another who was unresponsive. But both were trapped. Several other drivers stopped to help, and Bates was able to get them to work together to free the two men.
Bates swam underwater and was able to release the first man’s seat belt and free his legs from the twisted metal. With the assistance of the other spontaneous rescuers, he was able to get the second man out of the plane as well, but the man was still unresponsive.
Bates initiated CPR and continued until emergency services arrived, but sadly the man passed away. The other man was airlifted by STARS to hospital where he made a full recovery”.
“On September 30, 2017, Constable Michael Chernyk was working extra duty at the Edmonton Eskimo game enforcing road closure for vehicle and pedestrian safety.
Suddenly, a car accelerated and struck Chernyk sending him several metres through the air. Before he could get up, the male driver of the vehicle attacked him with a knife, and Chernyk suffered a number of cuts to his face and head. Constable Chernyk defended himself, being mindful of the potential that the male could access his sidearm, but Chernyk was able to fend off the attack and keep it secured. Constable Chernyk was able to stop the attack, then rose to his feet and radioed for assistance. Chernyk drew his firearm in the event of an additional attack. The male fled the scene, and being mindful of the residential area and the blood running down his face, Constable Chernyk made the intelligent decision not to shoot.
EPS members quickly responded to the vicinity in order to locate the suspect. Constable Roy Paulino along with his training recruit received information on the nearby attack, and decided to set up a check point on Wayne Gretzky Drive to help locate the suspect. A U-Haul truck entered the Check Stop, and the driver resembled the description of the man involved in the attack. Upon obtaining the driver’s identification, Constable Paulino radioed for additional resources, but the U-Haul sped off. Constable Paulino and the recruit immediately responded, and radioed in the criminal flight.
Tactical Section members responded to the area to assist, and Sergeant Scott Innes, and Constables Mark Gogerla, Mike Whattam, Denis Plesa, Chris Tagg, Roggie Bourque, and Jay Reinelt made efforts to intercept the truck.
The U-Haul truck entered the busy downtown district and struck several pedestrians. Tactical moved in swiftly with their vehicle and disabled the U-Haul truck, flipping it onto its side. Tactical members then approached and breached the truck’s front window to apprehend the driver and prevent any further attacks. The driver of the truck failed to comply with directions, so members used a Conductive Energy Device, and were able to remove him from the vehicle and safely take him into custody”.
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