Sergeant praised at awards ceremony
A POLICE officer has received an award for bringing a vulnerable pensioner back home after he went missing.
Sargeant Christopher Ambrose was given the accolade at the East Sussex Divisional Awards Ceremony on Wednesday.
Judges said he demonstrated strong leadership and dedication after he refused to go off-duty until the 80-year-old dementia sufferer, who had jumped out of a window at a care home, was found.
The incident happened on August 1 last year when the pensioner left hospital earlier that day after suffering a fall, which left him with injuries to his face including two black eyes and wearing a neck brace.
Police found blood on the outside wall of the care home in Filsham Road, St Leonards, where he had injured himself jumping out of the window.
Sgt Ambrose set up a co-ordinated search plan. Officers were sent to the pensioner’s home address in Rye to see if he had contacted his wife or managed to get home but he had not.
Twitter was then used and responses posted online saying that a man fitting the pensioner’s description had been seen in Rock-a-Nore Road.
Sgt Ambrose sent his officer to search the surrounding area and the elderly man was found in Harold Road, about three miles away from his care home. He had been missing for four-and-a-half hours.
Neil Honnor, East Sussex Divisional Commander, Temporary Chief Superintendent, said: “The divisional awards are the highlight of the policing year. They are a real opportunity to celebrate the amazing work of officers and staff in East Sussex Division and their commitment to offering the highest standard of service to the community.”
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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