Police officers and staff commended for going above and beyond to protect public - The Coventry Observer

Police officers and staff commended for going above and beyond to protect public

Coventry Editorial 12th Sep, 2020   0

COMMITTED officers and staff who have gone above and beyond their duty to protect communities across Warwickshire have been recognised in a special ceremony.

The first of two Chief Superintendent’s and Director’s awards events was held at the force headquarters in Leek Wootton on Thursday (September 10).

The ceremony had originally been scheduled to take place earlier this year but was postponed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and a new in-house style format adopted to ensure social distancing.

Local Policing Chief Superintendent Ben Smith presented commendations while members of staff were recognised by Director of Enabling Services, Tania Coppola.




PCSOs Joanne Jackson and Helena Seal were commended for their level-headed and calm manner during a concern for safety incident involving a distressed woman in Rugby.

Thanks largely to the pair, the incident was safely resolved and the woman was able to get the appropriate support and guidance.


The speedy actions of DC Michael Harrison – performing first aid when a colleague was choking at Stratford police station – saw him rewarded with a commendation.

PC Matt Phillips played an integral part in a long-running investigation into animal cruelty involving a breeder who was illegally removing the ears from American Bulldogs.

PC Phillips’ dedication and work with partner agencies resulted in an 18 week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, the offender being banned from keeping dogs for 15 years and paying costs of more than £10,000.

Director of Enabling Services, Tania Coppola recognised the efforts of three staff members by handing out Director’s awards.

Police Staff Investigator Caron Moss was commended for her professionalism, tenacity and dedication as part of Operation Viper, an investigation which involved a series of serious acquisitive crimes, resulting in three men being convicted to more than 47 years in prison for offences against 33 victims.

Lou Kendrick was recognised for her communications work as part of the force’s Change Tea, involving the creation of branding, logos, merchandise, presentations and guides, while Sarah Hunt was commended for promoting and bringing the #UncoverYourPotential campaign to life.

Ch Supt Ben Smith said: “These awards have been given for the extraordinary efforts of individuals and teams across the force.

“They have displayed bravery, commitment and dedication to protecting people from harm and making our communities even safer and the officers and staff should be rightly proud of their actions.

“All the awards are incredibly well-deserved and it is an honour for me to be able to recognise these achievements.”

Tania Coppola said: “Our aim is to provide the best possible service to our communities and workforce and each of the recipients has played a role in ensuring we continue to do just that.

“I am extremely proud of those who have received Director’s awards, particularly during a challenging period and would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for their hard work and commitment.”

Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe added: “These awards are designed to recognise the extraordinary work of those who go above and beyond to help make our communities safer.

“Whether officers of staff, everyone has a part to play and it’s important we take the time to acknowledge and thank those hard-working professionals within the police service who dedicate their career to helping others.”

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