City of Sault Ste. Marie Police Chief Wesley Bierling addressed city residents, Mayor Don Gerrie, City Manager Brian Chapman, and city commissioners at a regular city commission meeting on June 5, 2023, to present the department's Lifesaving Commendation Award to three "exceptional officers."
Officer Trevor Adkins, Sergeant Jerome Gapczynski, and Sergeant Christopher Stempky each received life-saving awards for going above and beyond the call of duty.
The first Sault Ste. Marie Police Department Lifesaving Commendation Award was presented to Adkins. Bierling handed Adkins the plaque and read the following:
"On February 2nd, 2023, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department was dispatched to a residence within the 400 block of Greenough Street for the report of a domestic assault involving strangulation. While en route, you learned the suspect, a male subject, had cut his own arm with a knife.
You and the other responding officers made contact with the male subject in a basement. There was a significant amount of blood on the basement floor. The subject was bleeding profusely from a large laceration on his left arm and going in and out of consciousness due to blood loss.
You recognized this was a medical emergency and the male subject’s life was in danger. Relying on your training and experience, you acted quickly. You instructed the other officers to lay the subject on the floor. Once he was on the floor, you applied a tourniquet to the subject’s arm and stopped his bleeding. Shortly after, the ambulance arrived and transported the subject to the hospital. The subject survived his injuries.
Your compassion for the life of another human being, especially in their darkest hour, speaks highly of your dedication to the safety of those in our community. I have discussed this incident with the medical community and there’s no doubt your actions were lifesaving.
On behalf of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department, I am honored to present you with the department’s Lifesaving Commendation."
The next Sault Ste. Marie Police Department Lifesaving Commendation Award was presented to Gapczynski. Bierling stated:
"On March 6 th, 2023, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department was dispatched to an apartment complex for an alleged assault with a vehicle complaint. While en route, you learned the suspect, a male subject, had left the scene in a vehicle and said he was going to jump off a bridge. You began searching bridge areas for the vehicle a suicidal subject. You found the vehicle near the W. Portage Avenue bridge. You saw the vehicle park in the middle of the bridge and a male subject get out and climb over a bridge railing.
Quickly, you transitioned from vehicle to on-foot and approached the male subject. You found the subject very upset, crying, and suicidal. Immediately, you began to negotiate and de-escalate the situation in a calm and empathetic manner. You did this from a safe distance; far enough away that you didn’t entice the subject to jump but close enough to make your conversation effective. The subject, screaming and crying, clung to the railing and leaned his entire body away from the bridge and over the water. At one point, the subject faced away from the bridge.
Regardless of the dangerous actions taken by the subject, you kept your position, remained calm, and continued to talk with him. After approximately two minutes, backup officers arrived on scene. Now, working as a team, you and the other officers continued to negotiate and de-escalate from a safe and effective distance.
Your efforts were successful, and the subject swung his legs back over the railing. The subject was taken into protective custody without further incident and transported to the hospital. No one was injured during this incident.
Your compassion for the life of another human being, especially in their darkest hour, speaks highly of your dedication to the safety of those in our community. I have no doubt that your actions, tactics, and demeanor during this incident saved this man’s life.
On behalf of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department, I am honored to present you with the department’s Lifesaving Commendation."
The third Sault Ste. Marie Police Department Lifesaving Commendation Award was presented to Stempky. Bierling read as followed:
"On March 6th, 2023, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department was dispatched to an apartment complex for an alleged assault with a vehicle complaint. While en route, you learned the suspect,a male subject, had left the scene in a vehicle and said he was going to jump off a bridge. Sergeant Jerome Gapczynski found the subject on the W. Portage Avenue bridge. You responded to that location to assist.
Upon arrival, you found Sgt. Jerome Gapczynski talking with the male subject who appeared as if he was about to jump off the bridge. You approached and positioned yourself opposite Sgt. Gapczynski and at a distance from the subject that was far enough away so not to entice him to jump but close enough to have an effective conversation. You were very familiar with this subject from previous dealings. In fact, you had a positive report with him. You knew this and used it to your advantage.
You started negotiating with the subject and de-escalating the situation in a calm, empathetic, and friendly manner. The subject was very responsive to you, so much so that he shifted most of his focus toward you. Your efforts were successful, and the subject swung his legs back over the railing. The subject was taken into protective custody without further incident and transported to the hospital. No one was injured during this incident.
Your compassion for the life of another human being, especially in their darkest hour, speaks highly of your dedication to the safety of those in our community. I have no doubt that your actions, tactics, and demeanor during this incident saved this man’s life.
On behalf of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department, I am honored to present you with the department’s Lifesaving Commendation."
Mayor Gerrie thanked Adkins, Stempky, and Gapczynski for their life-saving acts on behalf of the commission and administration. He extended gratitude to all of the city's first responders.
.jpg;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
