Moray police officers honoured for bravery after Lossiemouth fire
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FOUR Moray police officers have been honoured for their bravery and swift action that helped save lives during a fire in Lossiemouth.
North East Division's Chief Superintendent George MacDonald and Superintendent Kate Stephen visited Elgin Police Station on Monday, October 25, to present awards to Sergeant Sean Jones, PC Selina Banford, PC Lisa MacIntyre and PC Paul Thompson.
All four officers had been on duty on the night of Thursday, December 12, 2019, when they saw smoke within a block of flats.
While PCs MacIntyre and Thompson ensured that residents within the block were safely evacuated, PC Banford and Sgt Jones entered the burning property to search for occupants.
They found a man requiring assistance and quickly helped him from the flat where he was assessed by ambulance staff and treated for minor injuries.
Sergeant Jones and PC Banford were awarded bravery medals from The Society For Protection of Life From Fire.
Constables MacIntyre and Thompson were also awarded certificates for their actions.
All four have received high praise from senior officers.
Local Area Commander for Elgin Chief Inspector Norman Stevenson said: "While it our duty as police officers to protect the public, Sergeant Jones and Constables Banford, MacIntyre and Thompson went above and beyond to ensure lives were not lost as a result of this fire.
"Putting their own lives at risk, each officer played a vital role in getting members of the public out of harm's way.
"I am in no doubt that, had it not been for their timely intervention, we would have been dealing with a more tragic set of circumstances.
"All four officers are a credit to themselves and Police Scotland and I am delighted their bravery has been recognised."
