TWO policemen who disarmed a man threatening passers-by in Calne with an air rifle have been given the Chief Constable's Certificate of Commendation.
Sergeant Glynn Ashforth and DC Tim Titchener were among eleven officers receiving awards for bravery, long service and good conduct at a ceremony today in Devizes.
The two officers, from Melksham and Cricklade, were first on the scene after numerous 999 calls of a man wearing a balaclava carrying a gun on London Road.
DC Titchener, 41, said; "I was in Calne on a routine visit when I saw this young lad walking down the street with a balaclava on and a rifle in his hand.
He said: "At that stage I didn't know it was an air rifle, it looked just like a rifle to me.
"He was clearly in distress. He put the gun in his mouth and then pointed it at passing motorists then pointed it at me.
"I called for backup and then my main concern was keeping cars and pedestrians away from him."
When Sgt Ashforth arrived the two men started talking to the youth to try and persuade him to put the gun down.
He said; "He was rocking back and forth and he was wearing a balaclava, so it was quite difficult to talk to him.
"At one time he stopped outside the school and I thought he was going to go in.
"At that point I was going to run him over if that was what it would take to keep him away from the children."
DC Titchener said: "It was 11am so there were lots of people about. It seemed as though Calne had never been so busy."
Sgt Ashforth had previously been a firearms officer, so had some experience of guns.
He said: "Even to me this air rifle looked like a real rifle. He pointed it towards me and that was the most scared I have ever been in my life."
Eventually the two officers managed to calm the young man down, and get him to put the gun down.
"In a situation like that your common sense and professionalism just takes over", said TC Titchener.
"At the end of the day it is down to us being able to talk to him as a person, and reassure him that we weren't going to harm him.
"We are both experienced officers, we are used to talking people out of situations, like in domestics or fights. This was just the same but on a more extreme level."
Sgt Ashforth said: "The best weapon we have is the ability to talk to people. I have lost count of the number of people I have talked down, and eventually they give up and that keeps us and them and the public safe."
Both officers admit to being surprised that when they removed the balaclava, they discovered the youth was only 15.
He was later given a one-year supervision order from North Wiltshire Youth Court.
Both officers say they are delighted to receive the award."This was our job, but we deal with so many things as police officers that it is nice to get some recognition of that", said Sgt Ashforth.
Sgt Ashforth's mother, Julia, said; "I am really proud that he has got the award.
"The job he does has dangerous aspects, and this award really brings that home to you," she said.
Other officers commended for their services to Wiltshire were Insp Geoff Miles, Insp Jon Trapper, Sgt Nick Blencowe, PC Colin Davies, Chief Insp Paul Williams, Sgt Robin Colbourne, PC Frances Brennan, PC Paul Mulley and PC Andy Holyoake.
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