(Main photo, Doug Blundell holding his granddaughter Lilly (three-years-old) and Port Hope Police Constable Dan Belanger)
Two men were presented with commendations by the Port Hope Police Service on June 6, 2023 for their heroic actions coming to the aid of a officer.
Doug Blundell from Port Hope and Jan-Henry Saunders from Germany were in the right place at the right time to help an officer on May 27, 2023.
Shortly before 4 p.m. Port Hope Police Constable Dan Belanger was in the area of Ontario Street business, just north of Walton Street responding to a unwanted male.
Constable Belanger advised the 29-year-old male that he was unwanted and was already told by property management that he was trespassing.
The male retreated to a different area of the property and the officer once again told him to leave the property.
Suddenly the male charged at the officer in an aggressive manner.
The officer deployed his taser twice, but both times were ineffective. The officer then tackled the male and as he was doing so, the male tried to disarm the officer of his taser.
Blundell, saw what was happening and came to assist the officer and Sanders also joined in helping in control the male and placing him in handcuffs.
Mayor Olena Hankivsky bestowed the honour of making Saunders and honourary citizen of Port Hope and presented a plaque to Blundell and will be sending the plaque to Saunders who joined by way of video for the ceremony.
“On behalf of the Municipality of Port Hope we are so incredibly grateful to you for this incredible act of bravery.”
Port Hope Police Chief Tim Farquharson said regarding what happened on that day, without the help of the two men, “we all know it could have potentially gone a different way.”
If it wasn’t for their actions, we don’t know what would have happened.
Saying the actions of both men were “above and beyond.”
Farquharson also presented Blundell with a Chief’s Challenge coin and will be sending one to Sanders.
The officer is still of work due to injuries sustained.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
