A police officer who saved a baby from the arms of a knife-wielding man has been praised for his actions.
Brave policeman - PC Alex Southgate, who has won a commendation for saving a baby from the arms of a knife-wielding man. (40526-b)
Colchester PC Alex Southgate was called to a flat in Great Horkesley to find the man holding the child in one hand and a kitchen knife in the other.
He managed to talk the man into handing him the baby, which he passed to a woman who was also at the scene. The man then dropped the knife.
The 25-year-old officer is to be presented with a commendation by Essex Police's chief constable in recognition of the way he dealt with the drama.
PC Southgate, who has been a police officer for five years, said he felt proud to be chosen to get the award, which is to be presented tomorrow.
The incident happened in Great Horkesley, in January 2004, and the man was arrested and sentenced to 80 hours community service.
PC Southgate, who was called to the early morning incident alone, said: "It did cross my mind that I hadn't come across anything like that before and I thought 'Blimey, what's going to happen here?
"But you get on with it and deal with it and it's only when you get back to the station that you think 'That could have been a lot more serious'."
Colchester-based Sgt Patrick White is also being commended for setting up ways of tackling anti-social behaviour.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Thursday, January 13, 2005
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