Fallen Abbotsford Police officer Const. John Davidson was honoured posthumously last week for his bravery in facing a gunman a year ago, as were several of his fellow officers.
The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General held its 37th annual Police Honours Night at Government House in Victoria, honouring 106 men and women from across the province. A total of 16 were from Abbotsford.
Davidson received the Award of Valour – the highest honour for a police officer in B.C. – for his exceptional bravery in being the first on the scene of a shots-fired call on Nov. 6, 2017. The gunman shot and killed Davidson, 53.
Also receiving the award were Abbotsford Police constables Shane Dueck, Chris Froese, Doug Watkins, Shane Wiens and another officer (whose name was withheld) for their “high-risk apprehension” of the armed suspect – Oscar Arfmann, 66 – not far from the scene of the shooting.
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Presented with the Award of Meritorious Service for their “exceptional performance under tremendous emotional stress” following Davidson’s death were Staff Sgt. Mark Jordan; Sgt. Colin Wiebe; constables Kevin Murray, Tyler Gump and Chuck McLellan; Det. Alex Wood; and two officers whose names were withheld.
Wood received a second Meritorious Service award for providing medical intervention to a man with self-inflicted neck wounds, while Staff Sgt. Paul Dhillon was honoured for saving a suicidal man from jumping off the Mission Bridge.
Const. Paul Walker also received the award for creating, piloting and developing the Prohibited Driver Enforcement Team when he was a member of the Integrated Road Safety Unit.
A total of 49 B.C. officers from municipal and RCMP detachments were presented with the Award of Valour, and 57 received the Award of Meritorious Service.
