Two York Regional Police officers are being honoured by the Ontario government with the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery.
Retired Staff Sgt. David Mitchell and Const. Mark Burnett are among the 21 police officers and 13 firefighters being honoured for their bravery.
“I have spent much time thinking about the constant risks and dangers that first responders face,” said Lt-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell. “In accepting these medals, I hope that these brave men and women will re-commit themselves to serving the public with integrity, knowing that their accomplishments will help motivate a new generation of Ontarians to join their ranks – looking to follow their example.”
The medals are the province’s highest honours and are given to police officers and firefighters who have demonstrated great courage in risking their lives to save the lives of others.
“Ontario is fortunate to be home to the best police officers and firefighters in the country,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “When confronted with the perils these men and women faced, most of us would have hesitated – they didn’t. They ran toward danger. And for that we honour them with the province’s highest award for bravery – their work is an inspiration to us all.”
Mitchell and Burnett are receiving the medal for their actions during a stabbing in East Gwillimbury in February 2021.
During the incident, the officer shot and killed a male suspect who had stabbed and killed a 38-year-old woman. Three other victims, a two-year-old boy, a four-year-old boy, and a 35-year-old woman, were taken to hospital with serious injuries and survived, thanks to the officers’ efforts.
After an investigation, the SIU, Ontario’s police watchdog, said the officers acted lawfully and stopped the suspect from causing further damage.
Upon arriving at the home in Mount Albert where the incident took place, the officers found multiple stab wound victims before locating the suspect who was holding a two-year-old child that had been stabbed.
The report says the suspect screamed at one officer to kill him and he refused to release the child as asked by the officer. After the suspect hit the child’s head against the wall, the officers pursued him into a bedroom where he stabbed a four-year-old child.
One of the officers then fired two shots at the suspect and the second officer grabbed the child. The second officer then fired shots at the suspect again when he made a move toward the two-year-old child.
“The officers exercised significant restraint before resorting, reasonably, in my view, to lethal force,” SIU Director Joseph Martino wrote at the time.
Since 1975, 315 Ontario Medals for Police Bravery have been awarded.
