The officers who helped save a man who set himself on fire last year will be commended for their bravery.
The officers' actions were originally being reviewed by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to determine if they could be charged with assault for their actions during the incident. But after a year-long investigation, the officers were cleared of any wrongdoing and will be recognized at next months police board meeting.
According to CK Police Chief Gary Conn, officers were called to a Chatham residence July 1, 2017, for reports of a man threatening suicide. Upon arrival, police found a man holding a Jerry can and a Zippo lighter. After police tried to talk the man down he proceeded to dump a liquid from the can onto himself and then set himself ablaze. Conn said the officers then jumped on the man and attempted to put out the fire with their clothing and a fire extinguisher.
"Their actions were exemplary and totally professional," Conn said. "I am of the opinion, and so was the board, that they went above and beyond their duties and as a result of that this person is still alive and here with us today. The SIU reports said the officers saved the man by risking their own lives to put out the fire the man had set to himself."
The Chatham-Kent Police Services Board passed a motion to give the officers citations for their efforts. Conn added it is pretty rare that an SIU investigation results in officers being commended for their actions.
Conn said the SIU's involvement was normal protocol when someone suffers serious injuries in the presence of police. He added a lot of people don't understand the amount of stress officers go through dealing with these types of situations.
"Not just with the incident at hand, but I am talking more about afterwards," Conn said. "Some of these investigations can go a year, a year and a half before we get a decision. That whole time those officers are under a lot of stress."
The 43-year-old man was airlifted to a London hospital where Conn said he was given a slim chance of survival as 80 to 90 per cent of his body was covered in second and third-degree burns.
Conn wouldn't name the officers, but said there be a ceremony at the next board meeting on October 16, which both officers will be invited too.