Hero police who saved family from fire wins officer of the year award

A police officer who thwarted a suicide attempt and rescued a family from a fire in Sliema was this morning awarded the Officer of the Year Award.

PC 1188 Paul Cassar won the award for his efforts in saving a person from committing suicide in Sliema and for helping rescue a family from their burning home.

PC John Spiteri, PC Francesco Imbroll, PC David Mizzi, PC Jurgen Falzon, PS Bjorn Schembri, PC James Mangion, PC Nigel Mallia, PC Steven Micallef, PC David Anthony Monaco, and PC Dion Fenech were each presented with a certificate of merit for their efforts in saving a person from rough seas and for identifying the perpetrators behind a fraudulent scheme targeting elderly persons.

The police shield – which is usually awarded to the police district that registers the highest drop in criminality rate – was awarded to the Police Corps to recognise the work of all police officers during the spring hunting referendum and local council elections, the Valletta Summit, and the CHOGM.

“Through your actions, you are making a difference in people’s lives,” home affairs minister Carmelo Abela told police officers during this morning’s awards ceremony at the police headquarters in Floriana.

The minister pledged that the government would continue to invest in the conditions of work of police, while discussions are set to start on overtime arrears of police – some of which stretch back to the 1990s.

Paying tribute to the members of the police force, Abela also urged officers to remain motivated and courageous. Particularly, the police must be proactive when investigating organised crime.

Present for the ceremony were the Minister for Home Affairs and Security, Carmelo Abela, Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia, the Commissioner of Police Michael Cassar and other high-ranking officers.

Mass was celebrated by the Force's Chaplain, Fr Raymond Bonnici. OFM.