Posted on May 21: Police chief honours McMaster security staff with special commendation

[img_inline align=”center” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/sec_commdn.jpg” caption=”McMaster Security Services staff and officers”]

Less than three minutes.

That's all it took for McMaster security officers to rescue a female student from an attempted sexual assault on McMaster's campus last fall. The quick response time prevented serious injury to the victim. Within the community, a crime was prevented and a dangerous offender was apprehended.

The quick work of the McMaster security officers and dispatchers in the early morning hours of a mid-November morning last year was praised and commended on May 12 at special ceremony to honour Hamilton police officers.

On Nov. 17, 2002 McMaster dispatchers Tony Hansford and Shelly Mayhew were monitoring the security surveillance cameras when they observed a male suspect straddling a female. The female was walking to her parked car when she was attacked.

Security units were immediately dispatched and McMaster Officers Mike Ashley, Chris Clement, Bryan Drury and David Noble responded, under the direction of Sgt. Dave Jenkins. The suspect fled and was pursued by officers for some distance before being apprehended, through co-ordinated efforts.

“The diligent efforts of Tonya Hansford and Shelly Mayhew in recognizing an assault and taking action can be credited to preventing severe injury to this victim. With less than 3 minutes response time, the commitment and professionalism of Sgt. Jenkins, Officers Drury, Ashley, Clement and Nobel helped not only stop a crime, but also helped apprehend this offender,” says the commendation from the Hamilton Police Service.

Chief of Police Kenneth Robertson also commended security staff for their excellence in public safety in a letter to McMaster security director Ron Thorn. “This team has shown excellence in their commitment in making the campus at McMaster a safe environment. The professionalism and dedication is a credit that all the staff and residents of McMaster should be very proud.”

Thorn is proud of his staff for both the fine work they did in preventing a crime and for being recognized with the commendation. “This recognition is well-deserved. Our officers and staff are committed and dedicated to the security of all who are on campus. Honours such as this help to confirm what we already know: We have an excellent security force and they do a superb job of keeping McMaster a safe community for all.”

Photo: McMaster Security Services staff and officers were honoured at recent commendation ceremony during Police Week. Above, the staff posed for a picture with honorary chief of police Lincoln Alexander. Left to right are: Inspector Bob Buck (Hamilton Police Service), Shelley Mayhew, Tonya Hansford, Chris Clement, Lincoln Alexander, Bryan Drury, David Noble, David Jenkins, Mike Ashley, and Ron Thorn. Photo credit: Ron Scheffler