Friday, February 25, 2022.

2021 Service Recognition Awards – Citizens and Officers Honoured for Actions During Stabbing in Bradford 

Citizen Award Recipients: Sheileen Goobie and Bruce McMaster

Excellence in Emergency Response Recipients: Detective Constable Andrew Smith, Constable Jon Ellis, Constable Spencer Green

These Citizen Award recipients are being honoured along with three officers, as they all went above and beyond during a very serious stabbing incident in Bradford.

The citizen heroes in this incident are Sheileen Goobie and Bruce McMaster, along with Detective Constable Andrew Smith and Constable’s Jon Ellis and Spencer Green who are being recognized for Excellence in Emergency Response.

On Friday, November 19th, 2021 just after 12 noon, a verbal argument erupted between two men inside a store on Holland Street West in Bradford. The dispute continued outside the store and a fight ensued.

During the fight, one of the men attacked the other with an edged weapon, causing severe injuries to the victim’s face, neck and stomach. The suspect left the scene in a truck with another male driving.

Detective Constable Andrew Smith was working as a paid duty officer that day and was pulling into the station at the end of his shift when he heard the radio call about the stabbing. He rushed to the scene and immediately began providing updates including the suspect vehicle description, direction of travel and severity of the victim’s injuries. 

He joined civilian Sheileen Goobie, an off duty nurse from a local hospital who was tending to the victim. Goobie had used her treasured jacket that had belonged to her grandmother, to cover the victim.  Goobie banged on the locked doors of stores, asking for towels from staff and both she and Smith worked together to apply pressure to the victim’s severe abdominal wound.

Bradford Fire Department and Simcoe County Paramedics arrived and assisted dressing the wounds and transporting the victim to hospital. 

The victim suffered critical life threatening injuries and was transported to a Toronto trauma center, but thankfully he has since recovered.

 Meanwhile, our other civilian hero, Bruce McMaster, who witnessed the victim laying on the ground took note of the two male suspects who fled the scene in a pick-up truck.  McMaster followed the vehicle and waved down Constable Spencer Green along the route, pointing out the suspect vehicle. 

Cst. Green remained calm, and gave clear, concise information including the location and direction of travel of the suspect while awaiting the arrival of backup before pulling the vehicle over.

But the suspect vehicle suddenly stopped and the passenger abruptly exited the vehicle. Green ordered the passenger to the ground at gunpoint and once his backup, Cst. Jon Ellis arrived, both the driver and passenger were arrested without incident.

Cst. Green has been an officer for less than a year and had only been on his own for a few weeks when this incident occurred, yet demonstrated the ability to take action in a high stress situation.

Cst. Ellis was also working as a paid duty officer that day, and like Smith, immediately headed to the scene and after hearing of Green’s whereabouts assisted with the high risk takedown and arrest of the two suspects. 

 We are recognizing these officers for their professional response to this dangerous situation, while also honouring Sheileen Goobie for her life saving action and Bruce McMaster for his help in apprehending the suspect.

Because of what these five did, a dangerous offender was quickly arrested and a man’s life was saved. You are all commended for the key roles you played in keeping our communities safe. 

Awards to the citizens were presented by Chief Fletcher prior to the awards ceremony held on February 24, 2022.

Congratulations and thank you.

Pictured are Shelieen Goobie, Bruce McMaster and left to right in bottom photo Chief Andrew Fletcher, Detective Constable Andrew Smith, Constable Jon Ellis, Constable Spencer Green and Police Services Board Chair Chris Gariepy.

 





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