Postman Drives Gunman straight to Police

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... ed_gunman/

Original Title: Crundale cop tackled gunman

9:10am Saturday 29th November 2008


A hero police officer who tackled, disarmed and arrested a gun-wielding criminal has been commended for his bravery.

Sergeant Jamie Francis, a former Sir Thomas Picton School pupil, was one of three cops honoured for their quick thinking and professionalism during the incident earlier this year.

On May 27th, two of Sgt Francis’ colleagues, PC Nick Davies and PSO Jenny Humphries, stopped a man who was acting suspiciously in Warndon Villages, Worcestershire.

The man brandished a handgun and threatened to shoot one of the officers before fleeing to a Royal Mail sorting office.

Sgt Francis was called in to cordon off the area and contain the situation, but was soon faced with the man carrying the gun in his belt.

Sgt Francis told the Western Telegraph: “He had got into a Post Office van and told the driver to get him out of there.

“The driver wasn’t having it and, unknown to us, he drove him straight to us,” said the 30 year-old police officer.

“He got out of the van and all of a sudden he was running towards me like a man possessed.

“It was just one of those fight or flight moments. I couldn’t run, so I had to take him down.

“My training just kicked in.

“We’re paid to do it, it was a judgement call. There were members of the public around so it was good to get it finished so quickly.”

Although the police officers later found out that the gun was a replica, all three received commendations from West Mercia police force for the way they handled the situation.

The man later admitted possessing an imitation firearm and assault and was sentenced to a minimum of two years in prison.

Sgt Francis — the son of Graham and Jeanette Francis — was brought up in Crundale.

He was a volunteer for the St John Ambulance service and an RAF helicopter pilot before joining West Mercia police in 2002.

His mother, Jeanette, said: “We’re absolutely honoured and very, very proud of him. He told us after it happened, but it was a few days later before we realised how serious it was.

“He was in the right place at the right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time, whichever way you look at it.”