Two Dorset Police officers have been nominated for a national bravery award.
Two Dorset Police officers who apprehended a man despite reportedly being sprayed in the face with a potentially noxious substance have been nominated for a national bravery award.
Sergeant Luke Sands and Sergeant Jen Hussey will attend the National Police Bravery Awards 2023 ceremony on Thursday 13 July 2023 alongside 90 police officers from 36 police forces.
Their nomination relates to an incident that took place on Saturday 19 November 2022 when Sergeant Sands and Sergeant Hussey responded to reports of a man attempting to start fires on Boscombe Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth, which at the time was busy with members of the public.
Sergeant Hussey initially engaged with the man who reportedly pulled out a bottle containing an unknown substance and sprayed her several times in the face.
Sergeant Sands recognised the risk that this man could potentially pose, so he immediately drew his Taser to stop the man and protect Sergeant Hussey. It is alleged that the man failed to comply with the directions of Sergeant Sands so he discharged his taser, but alarmingly he was able to break the wires and escape.
Conscious of the potential danger this man posed to the public, both sergeants chased and caught up to him. Sergeant Hussey challenged the man again who allegedly sprayed her in the face for a second time.
Sergeant Sands discharged his taser again so they could arrest the suspect, but he remained standing.
Sergeant Hussey continued to pursue the man on foot before discharging her taser to the back of the man’s legs, which had immediate effect.
The man was arrested and taken to a place of safety. The investigation into this incident remains ongoing at this time.
Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya, of Dorset Police, said: “I am incredibly proud of Luke and Jen for the bravery, commitment, and courage that they displayed on this occasion, and continue to display every single day. Their heroic actions and quick decision making removed a potentially dangerous individual from the streets and prevented any further risk or harm being posed to the public. Thank you for your outstanding work both.”
If you would like to join Sergeant Luke Sands and Sergeant Jen Hussey in relentlessly pursuing criminality and making a difference to our communities, then we are recruiting now for police officers. To find out more visit: Recruitment:- DC Police and Dorset Police - Dorset Police and Devon & Cornwall Police working in Partnership (recruitment-dcp-dp.org)
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