Plymouth Police honoured for bravery, dedication and outstanding service

Officers and staff from Devon & Cornwall Police were recognised for their exceptional bravery, dedication, and public service at a special awards ceremony in Plymouth recently. Surrounded by family and friends, recipients were celebrated for their work to protect and support the communities they serve.

Hosted by Plymouth Police Commander Chief Superintendent Scott Bradley, the ceremony honoured individuals who had gone above and beyond in their roles. Senior officers in attendance included Chief Supt Sheon Sturland, Supt Phil Williams, Detective Supt Ben Davies, and Chief Inspector Jason Bryant, alongside civic guests High Sheriff of Devon Caroline Harlow and Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Cllr Tina Tuohy.

Commander Bradley praised the recipients for their exemplary service, stating: “Every one of these colleagues leaves me feeling humble and proud in equal measure. Policing can lead us to become de-sensitised but this ceremony shows the hard work, effort, professionalism and selflessness demonstrated by those who are trying to improve the world in which we all live.”

Among those honoured was PC Mike Smith, recognised for his work on Operation Makesafe, raising awareness of child exploitation. PC Smith secured over £11,000 to fund training packs and public awareness campaigns, which were hailed as “amazing” by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit and gained national attention.

Darren Bolt, a staff member in the Major Crime Investigation Team, was commended for his exceptional work during Operation Hologram, a murder investigation involving rival motorcycle gangs. A court judge described his presentation of evidence as “the most impressive he had seen”.

Also recognised were PC Stuart Tucker, PC Lee Roberts, Sgt Richard Menheneott, and Sgt Andrew Millett for swiftly identifying and arresting a rape suspect in Plymouth city centre, leading to a successful conviction and a lengthy prison sentence.

Detectives working on Operation Hawksbill, which tackled large-scale violent disorder in Plymouth in 2024, were also celebrated. Commended were DI Marcus Hodges, DS Ralph Heard, DS Edward Carr, DC Regan Mullen, and DC Adam Fitzpatrick, who reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV to bring multiple offenders to justice.

PC Mark Shaw was honoured for rescuing a man from freezing water at North Quay during the early hours. After other rescue methods failed, he entered the water himself, managing to recover the unconscious man. PC Shaw suffered cold water shock during the heroic effort.

Sgt Mark Williams was recognised for his leadership in delivering the Plymouth Safe Bus project, securing ongoing funding and enhancing safety during city nightlife.

PC Jessica Floyd received a certificate for her sensitive handling of a neighbour harassment case involving elderly victims, which led to six charges against the suspect.

PCs Sam Carter, Jonathan Hitt, Katherine Routley, and Adrian Waldron were commended for saving a man’s life after responding to reports of rough sleepers, giving first aid and CPR until an air ambulance arrived.

PC Adam Whitehead was praised for his compassion and decisive action in helping an emotionally distressed woman on a bridge.

PC Danielle Anbany played a key role in implementing the Philomena Protocol, safeguarding at-risk young people through improved information sharing and multi-agency cooperation.

DC Andrea Dominik was celebrated for leading a complex sexual offence investigation, which resulted in the offender receiving more than five years in prison.

DC Tamsyn Dingley was recognised for her years-long investigation into historic sexual abuse by a sports coach. Her support enabled the victim to come forward, leading to a conviction on 11 charges and a 13-year prison sentence.

Marie Bartlett, a researcher in the multi-agency referral unit, was commended for her attention to detail and commitment to safeguarding in Plymouth, Cornwall, and Torbay.

Finally, Sgt Michael Hands, PCs Alex Jones, Carrie King, and Alicia Smerdon received recognition for their compassion and professionalism when responding to a driver who had suffered a fatal medical episode.

The event was a powerful reminder of the extraordinary efforts made by police personnel every day, often in the most difficult and high-pressure circumstances.