A real baptism of fire for rookie cops

Feb 9 2010 By Michael Russell

ROOKIE police officers had a real baptism of fire when they helped pull a woman from a burning house on their first day on the beat.

Trainee PCs Shaun Sharif, 25, Phil Robinson, 26, and Anthony Buss, 33, had just started their shift with PC Paul Diamond, an officer with eight years experience, when the call came from the fire brigade.They were told a mother was threatening to torch her home, in Ruislip Road, Greenford, and one of her children was also inside.

PC Diamond, 40, said: "We could hear a woman screaming and shouting inside. When I knocked she directed her screaming towards us, telling us she wasn't coming out."

A Sergeant arrived to take control and PCs Diamond and Sharif went round the back with another trainee PC who asked not to be named. They found the French windows were open and smoke coming from inside.

PC Diamond said: "We went in, the room was full of smoke and a coat was on fire on the floor with the flames licking up the side of the sofa."

The two officers spotted the woman who shut herself inside the kitchen and began barricading the door with furniture but PC Diamond kicked it through.

There was a struggle as the woman flew at him, he said: "She started attacking me, she was very upset and trying to get away.

"She was a large woman and pulled me off balance. She fell and I landed on her where I used my weight to pin her to the floor."

Her 17-year-old son came downstairs, confused and upset, and began trying to get PC Diamond away from his mother.

But rookie PC Sharif quickly stepped in to restrain him. He said: "I didn't have time to be nervous about the fire and the smoke.

"I could see the son was upset but he was just doing what any son would do.

"I never thought my first call would be as serious as that but I found I just switched off my emotion and reverted to my training."

Meanwhile the fire brigade arrived to put out the flames and, once everyone was outside, PC Buss helped calm the woman down by talking to her.

PC Robinson, who was maintaining a cordon around the area, had to square up to some burly bailiffs who tried to get in once the occupants were gone.

He refused them entry and it was discovered that they were why the mentally ill woman had barricaded her home as she had fallen behind with bills.

For rising to the challenge so well on their first shift on January 19, the officers have now been nominated by their borough commander for the Gazette's Pride in Our People Awards.

Superintendent Ian Jenkins said: "This is yet another example of excellent police work which highlights the true professionalism of the officers involved and the pride that they have in their job. I am extremely proud of my officers."