**** RCMP Media Release
RCMP Commissioner visits Nova Scotia to present RCMP’s highest award
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme joined Assistant Commissioner Dennis Daley, Commanding Officer of the Nova Scotia RCMP, to present Commissioner’s Commendation Awards to recipients at a private ceremony held last Thursday at RCMP Nova Scotia Headquarters.
“It’s always a pleasure to recognize RCMP employees who have made exceptional contributions, whether through courageous acts or career milestones,” said Commissioner Duheme. “You live the true meaning of service by choosing to show up each day to make a difference to others.”
The awards ceremony also included RCMP employees who received St. John Ambulance Life-Saving Awards and those celebrating more than 20 years of service.
“The Commissioner’s Commendation is the highest internal honour bestowed upon RCMP employees,” says Assistant Commissioner Dennis Daley. “It was originally created to recognize outstanding service by RCMP officers, but later expanded to include other categories of RCMP employees, fellow first responders, and civilian members of our community.”
The recipients of the 2023 Commissioner’s Commendation Awards are:
- Cst. Ryan Mangrove – Shortly after midnight on September 5, 2021, Cst. Mangrove was off duty at his Arichat residence when he heard a loud noise. He went outside to investigate and saw a pickup truck in the ditch; it was heavily damaged and on fire. Despite the flames, Cst. Mangrove extracted the unresponsive driver. The motorist was transported to hospital for medical care and Cst. Mangrove was treated at the scene for burns to both legs.
- Cst. Eric Latwaitis and Firefighter Scott Buchannan – On February 17, 2020, RCMP officers were dispatched to a 911 call at Uisge Falls Provincial Park. An individual had fallen through the ice and another person had jumped into the water in an attempt to help. Firefighter Scott Buchannan was the initial first responder on scene; he immediately went into the cavern below the falls to rescue the two people. Cst. Eric Latwaitis arrived shortly afterwards, also entering the cavern. Buchanan and Latwaitis used their bodies as shields, deterring the frigid water from falling directly onto the victims and preventing them from being swept away by the fast-flowing currents. Baddeck volunteer firefighters brought everyone safely to shore.
- Sgt. Kris Barr (HRP); S/Sgt. Chris Marinelli (HRP); Supt. Andrew Matthews (HRP); Cpl. Shawn Stanton (RCMP); Retired S/Sgt. Lisa Stuart (RCMP); Shauna MacDonald (Public Prosecution Service) – In February 2015, the Halifax Regional Police/Royal Canadian Mounted Police Integrated General Investigation Section received a Crime Stoppers tip that two individuals were planning a mass shooting at a Halifax mall on Valentine’s Day. The tipster had been informed that a local suspect was meeting with another suspect, who was flying into Halifax to carry out the attack. This team of investigators, including the Crown counsel, was instrumental in disrupting the mass murder plot, which was determined to involve three planners.
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