Constable Belinda Rose - Valour

Constable Belinda Rose of the Fergus Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police dreamed from a very young age of being a police officer. Whenever she saw the flashing lights of an emergency vehicle she wanted it to stop so she could get involved. In 1994 her dream came true and she joined the OPP.

In April last year Constable Rose's desire to help people almost cost her her own life. A man who was intent on killing himself had gone to the Elora Gorge, tied a rope around his neck and the other end to a rock and was intent on jumping over the edge to the bottom of the gorge, 70 feet below.

A keen pedestrian called police and Belinda Rose responded. As she approached the distraught man he warned her to stay away. Then he ran and jumped head first over the stone ledge toward the bottom of the gorge.

Constable Rose was able to grab hold of the man's legs and hold on to him all the while calling for help using her chin to key the microphone on her radio. Her foot was wedged against a chunk of ice and using that leverage she attempted to pull the man up a few inches at a time. The man weighed roughly 250 pounds and Belinda is barely 100 pounds. He continued to struggle pleading with her to let him die. With one final heave Constable Rose lost her footing and she and the man headed over the wall together. She looked down and saw the water just as backup arrived, grabbed her around the waist and pulled her and the man back over the brink to safety.

Two days later Belinda received a dozen roses and a card from the man thanking her for giving him another chance at life.

In a letter from a local resident Belinda's actions were summed up this way. "I want to commend you for your courage and selflessness when you recently helped that man in distress. You are a fine example to humanity, and a credit to the Police force." " I try to image what went through your head despite all your training and can only conjure a very brave soul motivated by a very big heart."

Ladies and gentlemen, the 2002 winner of the award of valour, Constable Belinda Rose.