February 25, 2022.
2021 Service Recognition Awards: Excellence in Emergency Response
Recipients: Constable David Oxley and Sergeant Ben Irwin
On January 10th, 2021, police were called to a drug store located on Innisfil Beach Road in Innisfil regarding an armed robbery.
Upon arrival, police learned that a male suspect entered the store and proceeded to the pharmacy desk where he demanded drugs while removing a large knife from the backpack he was carrying. He made his way behind the counter threatening the clerk with the knife, repeating his demand.
Staff complied but in the meantime, one employee had alerted some other staff members that a robbery was occurring and police were called.
Prior to police arrival the suspect fled and was last seen running west towards Jans Boulevard.
Several citizens assisted police in pointing out the suspect to Cst. Oxley and Sgt. Irwin who had arrived in the area. Oxley and Irwin confronted the suspect and ordered him to drop the knife, but he refused to comply, telling the officers to shoot and kill him.
At one point the suspect took a few steps toward the officers while brandishing the knife before turning it on his own neck. The officers showed incredible restraint and professionalism using tactical communication before deploying a conducted energy weapon. The suspect was taken into custody safely without further incident.
A 26-year-old Innisfil man was charged with Robbery and other serious offenses.
Of the many calls officers attend, this was a high risk situation. These two officers used sound judgment along with their experience and knowledge to safely apprehend a suspect with a deadly weapon with no lasting injuries to anyone. We commend their professionalism. The officers were honoured at our annual Service Recognition Awards Ceremony on February 24, 2022.
Pictured: Constable David Oxley with Chief Fletcher and Police Board Chair Chris Gariepy. Sgt. Irwin was unable to attend.
