BRAVE police officers and members of the public were handed awards last week to recognise their dedication and public service at the annual borough commander Commendation Ceremony.

Reporter GREG BURNS was in the audience to hear the heroic tales and speak to some of the winners.

INSPIRATIONAL tales of selfless and heroic policing left the hundreds packed into the Pillar Hall, in Olympia, awestruck.

Officers facing violent criminals, and often physically attacked themselves, fighting their own fear to keep the streets of Hammersmith and Fulham safe.

Hosted by the chief inspector Lucy D'Orsi, borough commander, this year's annual awards bash recognised the tireless policemen and women and volunteers who put their personal safety on the line every day.

Mrs D'Orsi said: “Today is a day for us all to be proud and it is very humbling for me. My officers are so dedicated and committed because this borough is challenging. But they rise to that challenge every single day.”

Winners were presented with a certificate by Mrs D'Orsi and borough mayor councillor Frances Stainton. They were:

FOR BRAVERY AND TENACITY SHOWN DURING THE ARREST OF A VIOLENT SUSPECT ARMED WITH KNIVES

Special Inspector Dennis O'Mahoney.

AS A VOLUNTEER officer, SI Mahoney spends his spare time working the Hammersmith and Fulham beat.

The 42-year-old runs an IT business in Hampshire as his 'day job' but finally fulfilled his dream of working as a policeman when he signed up two years ago.

And he was humbled to be handed an award for his bravery in tackling an aggressive knifeman.

The married father-of-two told the Chronicle: “I wanted to join the force in Ireland but you had to be six feet tall. So I moved on with my life but then saw an advert for volunteer policemen.

“I jumped at the chance and it is the best thing I ever did because it is so rewarding.”

SI Mahoney was driving along Shepherd's Bush Road at 2.50am on November 12 last year when he spotted a man lurking in the shadows next to the Richmond pub.

When he pulled up, the man said he had been robbed before getting flustered and pulling out a pair of six inch kitchen knives.

SI Mahoney wrestled him to the ground before arresting him. He said: “It is hard to explain how you feel at that moment. It is a combination of adrenalin and fear but you just do your job.”

FOR SELFLESS AND PUBLIC SPIRITED ACTION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF A SUSPECT FOR THEFT OF CASH

William Veazy.

A SENSE of public duty led Mr Veazy help convict a serial thief operating in Shepherd's Bush.

The 54-year-old, of Brent, tried to withdraw cash from Barclays Bank, in Scrubs Lane, on April 4 this year but his money got stuck in the slot.

When he tried to pull it out, he discovered a fitted plastic device that was deliberately withholding the money.

Suspecting foul play, he picked it off and parked his car nearby, called police and watched the cash point. Before long, the thief arrived to check his money trap.

He was arrested and jailed for 10 months with a further investigation finding he was involved in 60 similar offences across west London.

“I was shocked to find there had been so many other offences,” said Mr Veazy. “I was just doing what I felt was right and the community should help when they can because the police have their hands full as it is.”

FOR TENACITY AND COMMITMENT DEALING WITH A MENTALLY ILL MALE

PC Peter Hills.

A ROUTINE call to a block of flats led to PC Hills confronted with a mental-health patient threatening to hurl himself off the 15 th floor balcony.

Having fled a local hospital, the man was determined to commit suicide and take the two hospital workers holding him back over the edge too.

As first on the scene, PC Hills built up a rapport with the man and helped talk him down.

FOR PROFESSIONALISM AND TENACITY IN COMPLEX INVESTIGATION INTO AN ORGANISED CRIMINAL NETWORK

DS Simon Rogers; DC Matt Deans; PC Paul Jackson; PC Laura Nye; PC Bob Dixon; DC Eugene Emmanuel; DS Richard Gilbert; DC David Knowles; DC Angela Mills; Chris Flemyng.

MEMBERS of a sophisticated drug cartel were jailed for a total of 15 years in November last year after an 18-month police operation.

A relentless investigation by this team of officers saw Michael Lawrence, 42, Tracey Lucas, 44, Sarah Lawrence, 45, and Elliot Blackburne, 25, convicted of drug dealing and money laundering after their search led them from Shepherd's Bush to Manchester and Essex.

A total of 10 kilos of cocaine and cannabis, with a street value of up to £25,000, was recovered in raids and police believe the gang had been operating for up to seven years.

FOR RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION DISPLAYED IN THE ARREST OF A SUSPECT

PCSO Sean David

A £10,000 THEFT was prevented when PCSO David foiled a gang trying to steal brass handles from Shepherd's Bush overground station.

Five men were attempting to steal the valuable metal on January 27 this year and were approached by PCSO David and a colleague.

The gang attacked the officer punching him several times. But he was undeterred and chased one of the suspects and, despite further assault, restrained him until his arrest.

OTHER AWARD WINNERS WERE:

FOR COURAGE, DETERMINATION AND RESILIENCE AT THE SCENE OF A VIOLENT CONFRONTATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF THREE SUSPECTS FOR ASSAULTS ON POLICE

PC Sean Tucker; PC Rebecca Guillebaud; PC Dai Rees.

FOR PROFESSIONALISM AND COURAGE AT THE SCENE OF SERIOUS DISORDER AT THE TUC MARCH

PC Nick Jackson; PC Peter Hills; PC John Sheehan; PC Clive O'Rourke; PC Sean Tucker; PC Steven Spiteri; PC Claire Stevenson; PC Kristen Cardwell; PC Christopher Fittall; PC Gavin Miller; PC Ryan Price; PC Stephen Gadd; PC Stuart McKee; PC David Denton; PC Sean Murphy; PC James Franklin; PC Jonathan Lowe; PC Terry Mackin; PC Tom Stewart; PC Dan Riley; PC Mark Edwards.

FOR PROFESSIONALISM AND COURAGE AT THE SCENE OF SERIOUS DISORDER AT THE STUDENT PROTESTS

Inspector Nick Milton; PC Paul Hammond; PC Nick Jackson; PC Gary Leaper; PC Stephen Gadd; PC Simon Pleavin; PC Lee Egan; PC Scott Johnson; PC Luke Veillet.

FOR OUTSTANDING FORENSIC INVESTIGATION

Lorna Reeves

FOR RESILIENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM AT THE SCENE OF A SERIOUS ASSUALT

PC Attifa Pirmohamed; PC Jackie Anderson.

FOR TENACITY, DEDICATION AND BRAVERY SHOWN DURING THE INITIAL RESPONSE TO AN ALLEGATION OF ABDUCTION

SI O'Mahoney; SC Staines.

FOR INVOLVEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO THE BOROUGH

PCSO Ben Milton; PCSO Joanna Bukaczewska.