Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: August 31, 1993
• Invested on: December 06, 1993

RCMP Constable Denis Joseph Regent Fortin, M.B.
Firefighter Kevin Gelinas, M.B.
RCMP Constable Marlin Kroeker, M.B.
Firefighter Todd Sorensen, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

Csts. Fortin and Kroeker and firefighters Gelinas and Sorensen attempted to save two people whose snowmobile had broken through the ice of a sewage lagoon in Regina, Saskatchewan on December 12, 1992. Unable to see the victims because of dense ice fog, the two constables took an aluminum boat onto the ice in the direction of cries for help. When the boat broke through the ice and started filling up with sewage, Csts. Fortin and Kroeker began crawling along the ice but were forced by treacherous conditions to stop some metres from the victim. Firefighters Gelinas and Sorensen arrived with safety equipment and, fearing that the thin ice could not support the weight of five men, advised the two freezing constables to return to shore. They then approached Cst. Smith and all three attempted to pull the drowning victim from the water. Mr. Gelinas and Cst. Smith fell into the hazardous waste but Mr. Sorensen pushed a stretcher towards them and, with great difficulty because of breaking ice, pulled each in turn out of the frigid water. He then managed to roll Cst. Smith onto a ladder attached to a rope and gave a signal for those on shore to pull them to safety. Police divers later recovered the bodies of the victims.