THREE Salisbury policemen are to receive certificates of merit tomorrow, Friday, for their actions in two city centre dramas.

Sergeant Rick Taylor is to be honoured for his determination in arresting a wanted man following a chase that ended in a violent struggle and the officer needing hospital treatment.

And police constables Mark Calland and Simon Stone are to get certificates for their attempts to save an elderly man after he collapsed on a city centre pavement.

The awards will be presented by divisional commander of Salisbury police Chief Superintendent Jerry Wickham.

On Wednesday, October 15, PS Taylor responded to a report of two men smashing a vehicle window at the rear of Woolworth's

One man was arrested at the scene but the second offender ran off, with PS Taylor in hot pursuit.

They ended up in a back garden and the man became violent dragging, PS Taylor through a fence and repeatedly punching him in the head, causing a cut to his ear and swelling to the side of his head that later required hospital treatment.

Despite the assault, PS Taylor held on to the wanted man until colleagues attended to assist him.

After receiving medical treatment, he completed his tour of duty.The man was a 19-year-old from Surrey who was also wanted by another force.

He was later charged with various offences, including actual bodily harm against PS Taylor.

The certificate of merit is being awarded to the officer in recognition and appreciation of the "resilience and determination" he displayed in the pursuit and arrest of the man.

On Monday, October 6, PCs Calland and Stone were on plain-clothes patrol duties in Bridge Street, when they came across a crowd of people grouped around a collapsed elderly man on the pavement.

The two officers quickly assessed that the man had suffered a heart attack, as they could detect no pulse.

PC Stone requested an ambulance whilst his colleague began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; PC Stone then commenced chest compressions.

Both officers continued resuscitation until the ambulance arrived and rushed the pensioner to Salisbury District Hospital, where, although still poorly, he had recovered sufficiently to breathe unaided.

But sadly, he died the following day in the hospital's intensive care unit.

The officers were later hailed for keeping the pensioner alive until expert medical treatment arrived and their actions were described as being the "best traditions of the police service".

Sgt Taylor served in the Royal Engineers for nine years before joining the Wiltshire Constabulary in 1981.

His first posting was to Swindon and he was posted on promotion in 1987 to Salisbury, where he is currently the city centre sergeant.

PC Calland joined Wiltshire Constabulary in 1991 and was stationed in Amesbury before moving in 1999 to Salisbury, where he is part of the city centre policing team. PC Stone joined Wiltshire police in 1992 and was stationed in Amesbury before moving to Salisbury in 1995.

In 2000, he did a short tour with the security operations team, before returning to Salisbury, where he is also part of the city centre policing team.