Bravery of community officers Anthony McCausland and Andy Sanguigni praised by police commander
From disarming suspects to saving heart attack victims – the borough’s finest have done it all
Published: 25th March, 2011
by PETER GRUNER
TWO Islington police community support officers (PCSOs) who disarmed a man threatening a member of the public with a broken bottle received a commendation at a special prize-giving event in the City on Monday night.
Finsbury Park PCSO Anthony McCausland and his colleague PCSO Andy Sanguigni were praised for dedication to duty in dealing with a dangerous man.
Borough Commander Michael Wise presented the awards along with Islington Mayor Mouna Hamitouche at the plush headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company in the City.
The officers received a call to attend to a man with a nose injury resulting from a fight in Rock Street, Finsbury Park.
They arrived at the scene as the man with a bleeding nose was being surrounded by other men who seemed to be trying to calm him.
The man, who was very agitated, smashed a bottle, pushed the group away and ran down a busy street. With no safety equipment the officers, concerned for members of the public, chased after him.
PCSO McCausland started speaking to him to calm him down, while PCSO Sanguigni stopped pedestrians going near him. The man slowed down, but then threatened the officers by shouting and raising the smashed bottle in their direction.
PCSO McCausland then pressed the police emergency button on his radio and calmly gave details of the situation and location.
Then, as the man grabbed one of his friends and put the glass to his neck, PCSO McCausland knocked the suspect’s arm away from the victim.
The two PCSOs then helped police officers nearby track the man down and detain him.
PCSO McCausland said: “I just reacted automatically but my training kicked in. We avoided a potentially nasty situation.”
Police officer of the year is Sergeant Derek Wright, 34, a member of the Islington crime squad.
He was praised for the special care he takes with victims of crime.
Speaking at the event, Sergeant Wright said it was often easy to forget the pain and trauma experienced by crime victims.
“I’ve interviewed people who have been approached by men in balaclava hoods brandishing machetes and guns. It can be very difficult to get over experiences like this.
“I try and explain to people that this is normally a one off event in their lives.
“They must put it behind them.”
More than 20 police officers and staff were commended for a range of heroic and brave actions.
They included Special Constable Chris Heathcote, Probationer Constable Luke Glen, PCSOs Huseyin Gurgad, Amanda McDermott, and Louise Wright, all from St George’s Safer Neighbourhood team.
Police staff member Natalie Scagliarini and volunteer Ruthy Isadore were also mentioned.
Borough Commander Mike Wise said: “I am proud of the outstanding achievements of my officers and staff, and members of the community who keep Islington a great and safe borough.”
Other commendations went to PC Jenny Thorp and PC Tim Livermore for helping to prevent a suicidal woman from harming herself with a knife.
Exhausted after a busy night shift, the officers went to the woman’s flat, where PC Thorp spent two hours talking to the woman, who was on a balcony, and eventually persuaded her to disarm herself and come inside.
PC Paul Shalan and PC Lucas Robinson were commended for helping to save a man’s life.
A 34-year- old man had been having dinner with his fiancée and a group of friends when he had a cardiac arrest due to a previously undetected heart defect.
PC Shalan rushed into the flat and assisted one of the man’s friends with chest compressions until paramedics arrived.