The two police constables who foiled a hold-up at the Qormi HSBC Bank headquarters last June were yesterday named Officers of the Year for their “intelligence, persistence and zeal”.
Police Commissioner John Rizzo praised Mobile Squad members PC Kenneth Ciangura and PC Kurt Gauci for their determination to return to the scene of the crime after trying to chase a getaway car, led by the strong suspicion that more criminals would still be inside the headquarters. They ended up under fire from three masked robbers and got out of their car to shoot back in self-defence.
It was, in fact, thanks to their brave retaliation the case was solved some days later as one of the alleged robbers was arrested when he sought medical assistance due to a bullet wound.
The criminals had also thrown a Molotov cocktail at the police, who courageously continued to chase them in their car that was pierced by nine shots when they sped off.
“Living the reality of the experience is no joke,” Mr Rizzo stressed, saying the young constables were “an example of how a true policeman should behave”.
Also rewarded during a prize-giving ceremony at the Floriana police headquarters were two police constables who rescued a woman from a burning house in Marsascala on September 8.
PC Kenneth Camilleri and PC Robert Vassallo were on their way to escort the Prime Minister when they noticed smoke and a crowd assembled around a burning house.
“Glass panes were breaking due to the fire and the flames were bursting out,” PC Camilleri recalled.
Without hesitation, they stopped and figured out a way to enter the barred-up but inhabited building.
“We could tell the roofs of the neighbouring houses were connected, so we entered the first we could and climbed over the roof,” he recounted.
The two police officers took on the role of firemen – “only better because we arrived first” – and, despite being unequipped, they braved the flames.
PC Camilleri punched a door open to enter the smoke-engulfed house. He had to do so again to get out, ending up with some stitches on his hands.
But the important thing was that Marcella Mangion, whom they found in the stairs to the washroom, was saved, together with some of her many pets.
Asked if, in hindsight, he felt what he had done was crazy in a sense, PC Camilleri said what he found surprising, more than anything else, was that onlookers, who knew a woman was trapped inside the building, just stood and stared. Had he been a civilian, he would definitely have taken the same action in the same situation. The only thing he would have done differently was use something else, other than his fist, to smash the windows, he laughed.
During the ceremony, a number of officers received certificates of merit for distinguishing themselves while on duty. Most were rewarded for being instrumental in passing on vital information to their colleagues that led to drug finds, the conclusion of investigations and solving crimes.
Former members of the corps, who retired after serving for 25 years and more, were also honoured at the ceremony and the Fourth Police District, which also includes Cospicua, was presented with a shield for managing to lower the crime rate in the area by 11.2 per cent.
Mr Rizzo said it was ironic that Cospicua, often criticised for crime in the area, was the one that managed to register the highest crime rate cut in a year that saw a slight increase overall.
“These are not coincidences,” Mr Rizzo said, listing other achievements in a “tough year” that was also “satisfying”.
Over the past two months, the country witnessed serious crime. “But if the police force got five hits it returned three, showing its determination to fight criminality,” he said.
An increase in tourists meant a bigger population, which, in turn, translated in an increase in crime. Tourists were sometimes the victims and sometimes the perpetrators of thefts that increased where there was more activity, he said.
A record number of persons were arraigned over economic crimes, such as corruption and bribery, while drugs were stopped even before entering the island and causing irrevocable damage, Mr Rizzo said.
Home Affairs and Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici praised the work of the police force, saying it was clearly on the ball. He urged the public to tip off the police and pass on any information that would assist them solve crimes that appeared to be complicated.