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WELCOME
Our responses to the challenges of policing never cease to impress and in these awards we recognise the best of the best.
The stories of bravery, heroism and commitment are the characteristics that define policing.
These awards give us an opportunity to come together, and recognise the incredible work of our colleagues across the country and to celebrate the exceptional contribution that our finalists have demonstrated, showing the public that “it’s what we are”.
DAVID HAMILTON SPF CHAIRCONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR FINALISTS
INDIVIDUAL BRAVERY AWARD
Katy Mackay
Sarah Quick
John Welsh
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT AWARD
Aaron Chadha
David Clark
Ross Fisher
TEAM BRAVERY AWARD
Emma Donoghue, Alistair Mcleod, Callum Norris & Carly Parsons
Rachael Hendry, Christopher Smart, Nikki Smith & David Jones
Ross Cruickshank, Christopher Follan, Liam Hulme, Kyle Brockie & Ruaridh Loughlin
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Stuart Cairns
Jennie Macfarlane
Janet Sloan
COP’S COP OF THE YEAR
Judson Howie
Maurycy Mikolajewski
Sarah Quick
CHAIR’S AWARD
David Marr
INDIVIDUAL BRAVERY AWARD
WINNER
KATY MACKAY | INVERNESS
Probationary officer PC Katy Mackay sprung into action to restrain a dangerous man who headbutted her colleague and knocked him unconscious.
PCs Mackay and Dean Gilles were flagged down in Inverness by a member of the public after a taxi driver was assaulted in September last year.
They found a man acting aggressively and could see the taxi driver had sustained facial injuries. The suspect was approached by the constables as he argued with members of the public nearby, with the officers taking hold of each arm to prevent him escaping.
He became aggressive and abusive, and, as the officers tried to arrest him and apply handcuffs, the man lunged forward and headbutted PC Gillies – causing him to lose consciousness for a short period.
PC Mackay continued to struggle with the man, who was considerably larger than her. She managed to draw her PAVA and gain control and restrain the suspect on the ground to handcuff him.
PC Gilles was taken to hospital and diagnosed with severe concussion. He was off work for several months with severe post-concussion syndrome because of the assault.
Divisional rep Sergeant David McAlpine said: “PC Mackay was still a probationer and at the time of the incident with around 18 months of service.
“She showed great reserve and a ‘cool head’ as she managed to gain control of a male who was physically bigger and stronger than her.”
FINALIST
SARAH QUICK | DALKEITH
Last December, PC Sarah Quick was seriously injured during a violent attack as she tried to check on the welfare of young children.
The officer was asked to attend after social workers had been denied access to see the youngsters, who were deemed “high-risk”.
When she arrived, PC Quick was threatened and the householders tried to slam the door closed against her.
Putting herself in harm’s way, she wedged herself in the door and was subjected to repeated punches and kicks from several men and women inside.
PC Quick was then battered over the head with a metal bar, knocking her down a flight of stairs and splitting her head open.
She picked herself up but was covered in blood and had suffered a very severe concussion.
The constable has been described as a “dedicated team player” with “determination and veracity”.
Nominating officer PC Calum Connelly said: “Despite this severe concussion having a significant limiting effect on her work and personal life for several months, Sarah was desperate to get back to full duties and had to be heavily encouraged and instructed by her team to take time to rest and recover before putting herself back in the line of danger.
“She is extremely deserving of an award and would be supported by all of her colleagues and bosses in receiving one.”
FINALIST
JOHN WELSH | GLASGOW/NEWTON MEARNS
PC John Welsh was off-duty at home and asleep in bed when a vehicle crashed into his family’s house in Newton Mearns.
He immediately got up to investigate and saw a man inside his hallway who then ran off. The officer checked his children were safe and told his wife to contact the police before chasing after the man in his bare feet.
PC Welsh managed to catch the suspect, who violently resisted arrest. When police arrived, it emerged the man had been in possession of a knife. It is thought this was used to repeatedly stab his partner in an earlier domestic incident. She was badly injured and inside the crashed car. The man was later charged with attempted murder, as well as numerous driving offences including being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and other charges.
PC Jack Brown, who nominated PC Welsh, said: “John showed complete and utter professionalism when he traced the male and assisted apprehending the male.
“Upon returning to the car, they observed a female in the passenger seat bleeding out from the neck.
“This incident forced John and his family out of their home, resulting in a stressful time for them.”
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT AWARD
WINNER
ROSS FISHER | GLENROTHES, FIFE
School campus officer Ross Fisher was born and bred in Glenrothes and has become a role model for local children.
He covers the town’s three high schools and is well-known and respected by pupils and staff. The police constable regularly supports youngsters who may be being bullied or are low in confidence, and often manages to identify and intervene in problems before they develop.
PC Fisher is also a black belt in Taekwondo and has run a local martial arts club in his free time for over 25 years, offering events outside of school for pupils to see the benefits of physical exercise while also widening their social circle and improving their confidence.
He encourages pupils to attend, and discreetly allows children to go along even if their families cannot afford to pay for the classes.
PC Fiona Johnston, who nominated PC Fisher, said: “Ross works as the schools’ liaison officer.
“This involves him attending and dealing with all police matters at the three local high schools.
“He engages with local youths outside his work, teaching Taekwondo, and ties the two roles together by encouraging youths from a more troubled or less affluent backgrounds to get involved in sport and local youth groups.”
Scottish Police Federation East Area Committee chair Graham Ross added: “He has made a huge contribution to the community and is exactly the kind of officer the service needs to connect with the public. He sums up the very best of Police Scotland.”
FINALIST DAVID CLARK | EDINBURGH
Police Constable David Clark has spent several years working to build relationships with Edinburgh’s LGBTI communities.
The officer reviews hate crimes on a daily basis, allowing him to identify victims of crime and engage with them directly to offer specialist Equality and Diversity support.
He also provides information to schools, and delivers training to partner agencies about hate crime.
PC Clark put forward a proposal for Police Scotland’s E Division to sign-up to the important LGBT Youth Scotland LGBT Charter.
The programme was developed to support organisations to undertake training, review policies, practice and resources to ensure that legislative needs are being met.
It also ensures organisations are being as inclusive as possible.
By committing to the Charter, E Division will instil confidence in officers and staff to be their whole self at work and to feel included and supported by their colleagues and supervisors.
PC Clark successfully put forward a business case and received funding and approval the division to sign up to the Charter.
FINALIST AARON CHADHA | EDINBURGH
“Through incredible determination, he received approval and funding to enrol the Division on the LGBT Youth Scotland Charter.
“E Division is the first – and currently only –division signed up to this with other divisions now showing an interest and the force as a whole may also follow on. It is a phenomenal achievement.”
Police
The North Edinburgh Community Festival, which was attended by around 6,000 local people, took place for the first time in May at West Pilton Park.
It was a free, family friendly and community-led event which helped to strengthen links between a variety of organisations.
Locals were able to enjoy free food and entertainment as well as a host of activities.
The event was a huge success and helped bring the local community together, and it is expected to take place again next year.
It was also praised by local residents and elected representatives in the area.
PC Euan Sinclair, who nominated Sgt Chadha, said: “Aaron’s commitment to the community was an integral part of this event and is the reason I put him forward for the community award.
“Aaron’s work provided an opportunity for a variety of groups and third sector organisations to meet and gain valuable links within the community.
“This has opened the door to further partnership working since the event, and has been invaluable to the community.”
Sergeant Mark Innes, who is PC Clark’s supervisor and nominated him, said: “PC Clark works in the Prevention, Intervention and Partnerships team in Edinburgh. Sergeant Aaron Chadha is nominated for this award after playing a key role in creating a large-scale community event in the north of Edinburgh this year.TEAM BRAVERY AWARD
WINNER
RACHAEL HENDRY, CHRISTOPHER SMART, NIKKI SMITH AND DAVID JONES | EDINBURGH
In January this year, PCs Rachael Hendry and Christopher Smart were called to a city centre block of flats where a man was threatening to “blow up” the building.
The police constables immediately entered a property where the suspect, who was having a mental health episode, was armed with a large kitchen knife.
He was also holding a lit candle in an attempt to use the gas supply to cause an explosion.
The man had also cut his own neck, severing an artery and causing catastrophic bleeding.
PCs Hendry and Smart, along with PCs Nikki Smith and David Jones when they arrived on scene, managed to disarm the man, and provided emergency treatment that ultimately saved his life.
The group went on to help with a large-scale evacuation of the block, ensuring public safety.
At the time of the incident, PC Hendry was a probationary officer and had only been with her team for a few shifts.
Nominating officer Sergeant Stuart Powell said: “As a team, and working with partner agencies, lifesaving first aid was administered to the male, ultimately saving his life, whilst a large-scale evacuation of the residential building was co-ordinated ensuring the safety of the public.”
FINALISTS
EMMA DONOGHUE, ALISTAIR MCLEOD, CALLUM NORRIS AND CARLY PARSONS | EDINBURGH
Four police officers in Edinburgh – Emma Donoghue, Alistair McLeod, Callum Norris and Carly Parsons –saved the life of a violent man despite being attacked as they went to his aid.
The officers were called to a domestic incident where the man had managed to force his way into his ex-partner’s home by punching a window.
As he climbed through broken glass, the suspect seriously injured his arm and was losing a dangerous amount of blood.
The team attempted to stem the bleeding by applying a tourniquet and an Israeli bandage, however the man violently resisted, and they had to roll on the ground with him over broken glass and blood.
During the struggle, he kicked out – fracturing PC Donoghue’s left thigh and rupturing both her ACL ligament and meniscus cartilage, leaving her requiring surgery to repair her knee.
She immediately fell but managed to keep hold of the suspect despite her own injuries which allowed her colleagues to provide emergency first aid.
The group’s shift Sergeant Keith Scott said: “After attending a domestic where the suspect had punched through a glass window and suffered an arterial bleed, the suspect assaulted PC Donoghue causing significant ligament damage to her knee.
“Despite the serious injury she kept hold of the suspect by restraining him, allowing emergency first aid to be administered, undoubtedly saving his life.”
FINALISTS
ROSS CRUICKSHANK, CHRISTOPHER FOLLAN, LIAM HULME, KYLE BROCKIE AND RUARIDH LOUGHLIN EDINBURGH
A trio of officers on a mobile patrol came across a man brandishing an 8-inch kitchen knife in a crowded Edinburgh street.
The area was busy with members of the public, and PCs Liam Hulme, Kyle Brockie and Ruaridh Loughlin acted immediately to try and control the suspect.
However, the man repeatedly lunged towards and tried to stab them as they attempted to contain him.
Assistance was requested and PCs Ross Cruickshank and Christopher Follan, who were nearby, soon joined them.
The suspect continued to lunge at the constables before running towards members of the public.
He was successfully contained by the officers, who stopped him from escaping and prevented injury to the public or themselves.
Eventually, the man threw the knife to the group, and he was apprehended before armed officers arrived.
Response Sergeant Jonathan Wilson, who was Acting Police Inspector for Gayfield Square and Howdenhall police stations on the night of the incident, said: “These five officers dealt with a male who was brandishing a knife on a busy public street.
“They surrounded him and successfully contained him, despite him repeatedly lunging at the officers and swiping at them with the knife.
“They kept him away from members of the public and avoided injury to the public or themselves, ultimately tackling him to the ground, restraining and arresting him.”
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
WINNER
JENNIE MACFARLANE | GLASGOW
Community policing sergeant Jennie MacFarlane has been praised for her dedication to standing up for colleagues.
The officer has been described as someone people can go to for any reason, whether it be work or personal matters.
She regularly gives up her free time and works non-stop to ensure that officers in her division have their welfare matters considered by senior management, while also keeping colleagues up to date with the latest guidance, allowances, and expenses.
MacFarlane is also the main influence of the G Division Reps Twitter account, which now has over 4,500 followers.
She has continually served the Divisional Federation for 11 years after initially being voted in as part of Strathclyde Police, and subsequently at the inception of Police Scotland. This is secondary to her “day job” as a community policing sergeant in the Greater Glasgow area.
She takes a particular interest in equality issues and has represented and provided advice to countless officers.
Nominating officer Inspector Davie Taylor said: “We are both Fed reps in G Division and have seen her work first hand in assisting others, particularly those in times of need. “I see how much times she donates, especially her own personal time, to helping folk.
“Jennie is a rock to so many officers. It’s testament to her that virtually everyone who has been in contact with her sings her praises.”
FINALIST STUART CAIRNS | KIRKINTILLOCH
Temporary police sergeant Stuart Cairns received a total of nine nominations in recognition of his compassion, understanding and positive attitude.
He is a response supervisor based in the Greater Glasgow Division at Kirkintilloch and regularly goes above and beyond to take care of colleagues.
The officer supported his team throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and frequently checks on their welfare by conducting formal and informal debriefs to make sure they are all fit and well before finishing duty.
In one nomination, a team member described the care he received after losing his father, with Cairns giving him a listening ear and supporting requests for compassionate leave.
All of the nominations spoke about the high regard Cairns gives to his team’s wellbeing, and his efforts to provide development opportunities that help lift morale.
It is apparent that he values the contributions of colleagues from all divisions and is respected for his fairness and clarity in decision-making.
Scottish Police Federation representative Linda Mathers said: “It is clear that Stuart cares about his work, is passionate about providing the best service for the public while safeguarding the wellbeing of his colleagues.
“All the nominations mention Stuart’s infectiously positive attitude to his work and the manner in which he consistently puts the welfare of his team as a top priority.”
FINALIST JANET SLOAN | GLASGOW
PC Janet Sloan has worked in frontline response policing in Glasgow’s east end for her entire career spanning more than two decades.
During that time, she has tutored countless officers and has worked tirelessly to serve her community.
One area which she excels in is her approach to missing people.
She is regularly relied upon to liaise with family members, with her skills and experience giving her an exceptionally high success rate in tracing vulnerable people.
PC Sloan was praised for her performance when she was tasked with VIP liaison at last year’s COP26 event.
Her work there was so impressive that she was later invited to a private reception at the Panama Embassy in London.
The officer is described as having a meticulous approach, which shone through when she was selected to lead an initiative to clear a backlog of crime reports where complex and time-consuming inquiries were required.
In one particular example, she managed to recover five missing vans worth £45,000 which had been missing for several months.
She carried out extensive inquiries and took phone calls on her days off to speak to officers in other parts of the UK.
Inspector Jonathan Watters, who was PC Sloan’s line manager for three years, said: “Janet is just a fantastic officer, and I was the luckiest supervisor in the police to have her on my team.
“Her commitment to give a first-class service is absolute and there has been a barrage of positive feedback from colleagues and the community alike.
“Janet could operate at any rank or level in the police, but she has dedicated her career to the serve the community of the east end of Glasgow.”
COPS’ COP OF THE YEAR AWARD
WINNERSARAH QUICK | DALKEITH
Police Constable Sarah Quick is an integral part of her team and is universally liked and respected by her colleagues.
The officer is not long out of her probation but has been described as having knowledge and experience “far beyond her years”.
PC Quick’s communication skills have been instrumental in the resolution of countless high-risk incidents and her personality is said to draw people to her, allowing her to make a huge impact in the local community.
She has been praised for supporting her team with both professional and personal matters and for taking on as much responsibility as possible, while always being “the first to arrive on shift and the last to leave”.
In one notable incident, PC Quick arrested a man for a violent domestic incident long after the area search had been called off.
PC Calum Connelly, who nominated PC Quick, said: “Sarah is not long out of her probation and is an extremely competent and keen officer.
“She is well-liked by all of her colleagues and the local community.”
He added: “Sarah is extremely dedicated to policing her beat and without a thought regularly puts herself in harm’s way to protect the public and her colleagues.
“If there is any possibility of a positive resolution to an incident, Sarah will persevere until this is achieved.”
FINALIST MAURYCY MIKOLAJEWSKI | LEITH, EDINBURGH
Edinburgh police officer Maurycy (Mo) Mikolajewski has been praised for his work ethic and dedication.
The constable regularly volunteers to change shifts and work overtime to support team goals and has successfully tutored and mentored several probationary officers.
He is described as the “first voice to be heard” on the radio for immediate assistance calls and is always willing to muck in and get involved.
With nearly eight years of service, his enthusiasm and desire to help and support colleagues is always evident.
One example of this was when PC Mikolajewski and his probationer, having researched recent intelligence, observed someone acting suspiciously and apprehended them after a foot chase. The suspect was then found to be in possession of supply quantities of controlled drugs.
PC Mikolajewski, who has flourished despite having the added challenge of English not being his first language, took the time to share learning from this with the probationary officer.
Another incident saw him respond to a call involving a man who had been stabbed and had jumped from a height.
FINALIST JUDSON HOWIE | LEVENMOUTH, FIFE
Police Sergeant Judson Howie regularly goes above and beyond the call of duty by making his colleagues’ welfare a top priority.
He set up a “wellbeing cupboard” at the station where he works, which he fills with juice, food, toiletries and helpful items like charging cables and boot polish.
His intention was to ensure officers have everything they might need to hand when they are on shift and are able to charge their phones to contact their loved ones when they will be home late.
Sgt Howie started packing the cupboard with discounted items he found in shops. This has since developed and expanded, with colleagues leaving donations too.
The officer is now planning an outdoor safe space with two benches, fencing and plants, giving colleagues a place to rest.
He also turns “Santa” at Christmas time and decorates the station to ensure that those having to work over the festive period can do so in a
He traced the man and – despite finding a horrifying scene – managed to control the area, carry out first aid and communicate critical updates that resulted in the man’s life being saved.
Inspector Grant McCulloch, who nominated PC Mikolajewski, said: “Mo has worked in response for several years now and his enthusiasm, determination, and desire to help colleagues and work towards team goals is huge and has not wavered over that time.
“He is a joy to have on our team and he has remained a consistent and welcome presence.
“Mo gels the team together and inspires others to follow his lead.”
cheerful environment.
PC Kevin Taylor, who nominated Sgt Howie, said: “Judson looks after his staff’s welfare better than anyone I’ve seen.
“He consistently puts people first. He is approachable, open minded and a friendly face whether it’s your first day at the station or you’ve known him his entire service.
“He is what Cops’ Cop of the Year should be.”
SPF CHAIR’S AWARD 2022
WINNER DAVID MARR | EASTA hero off-duty cop tackled a man who claimed he was going to burn down a restaurant in what prosecutors likened to a scene from a blockbuster movie.
Police sergeant David Marr intervened after the man left customers terrified by clutching a jerry can while smoking and telling them he was going to blow up the building.
The incident, which happened at the Ashoka in Glasgow’s west end in May last year, saw Sgt Marr – who had been having lunch – step in and wrestle the erratic suspect to the ground.
When the case reached court, prosecutor Tanjeel Maleque told jurors that the events were “almost akin to a movie plot”, adding: “An off-duty police officer stepping up to save the day, it certainly has an air of Die Hard to it.
“The reality is this incident was not cinematic or enjoyable for those involved.”
The man was said to have created an “awkward atmosphere” in the restaurant, which quickly turned to becoming threatening.
Sgt Marr told the court he became concerned when he saw the man carrying a jerry can.
The man was later found guilty of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and jailed for two years. The case was reported in local news outlets in Glasgow.
Scottish Police Federation chair David Hamilton said Sgt Marr’s actions had ensured the public faced no further risk.
He said: “It is a great honour for me to present this award to Sergeant Marr. He has shown the essence of what it is to be a Police Officer, stepping forward to protect the public, even when off duty.
“Police officers, and their families, never know when they can be called upon and Sgt Marr’s selflessness and commitment to protect the public should be recognised. He is truly deserving of this award.”