Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: October 18, 2007
• Invested on: June 19, 2009

Provincial Constable of the OPP Dennis Armand Desjardins, M.B.
Sergeant of the OPP M. Adam W. Illman, M.B.
Gary Read, M.B.
Provincial Constable of the OPP Stephen Waite, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On August 19, 2006, Sergeant Adam Illman, constables Dennis Desjardins and Stephen Waite, as well as then constable Gary Read, rescued a man trapped in his burning car, near Sioux Lookout, Ontario. These Ontario Provincial Police officers encountered the flaming vehicle on its roof in a deep ditch. While constables Read and Waite attempted to extinguish the fire, Sergeant Illman and Constable Desjardins struggled to open the passenger door, which was embedded in the grass and mud. In spite of the intense flames, the four police officers managed to pull the unconscious and severely burned man from the wreck. They then dragged him to the shoulder of the road and remained with him until medical help arrived.