Heroic officers nominated for bravery award after saving children from gunman in Suffolk
The officers are in the running for the National Police Bravery Awards.
Last updated 24th Sep 2020
PC Peter French and PC Jordan Tuck were called to an incident of domestic violence on 8th September 2019, where they found themselves facing a man armed with a shotgun.
They arrived at the house in Great Cornard and found the inside had been turned upside down, with furniture and glass all over the floors.
The officers, from Stowmarket and Sudbury respectively, found a 12-year-old girl in the kitchen who told them the man had gone outside.
As they approached a shed at the end of the garden, the man appeared and pointed the weapon at the officers.
They backed away inside the property, after realising the suspect wouldn't comply, and locked the doors to prevent him getting inside.
Three children and an adult were the evacuated to safety - the oldest child said the man had threatened to kill them all.
PC French radioed in the situation, when the man smashed the patio doors before going back to the shed and setting it on fire.
As they waited for armed units, the man dropped the weapon to the ground, giving the officers the opportunity to arrest him and get the shotgun.
The man had fired the weapon during the incident, but it failed to discharge.
Suffolk Police Federation Chairman, Darren Harris, said: "Police officers never know what the call will be when it comes in, it was an extraordinary scene, and Jordan and Peter were incredibly brave to get these children out of the way and to safety.
"Anything could have happened, and it’s only through their absolute courage and tenacity that this incident did not become a tragic one. We are very proud of our colleagues and pleased that this violent man is behind bars where he belongs."
The man was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for numerous firearms offences, threatening to kill, ABH, arson and assault.
National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, John Apter, said: "PC Jordan Tuck and PC Peter French are heroes, plain and simple. What brilliant police work and complete courage. We are very proud of them.
"As a Police Federation, we wanted to make sure these brave officers received the recognition they deserve in the year their actions were meant to be celebrated. And we look forward to seeing them all in person – and revealing regional and national winners - when the time is right in 2021."
The officers will attend a daytime reception and evening awards ceremony next July, after this year's event had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.