Yesterday (Oct 18th), at a private ceremony, the Honorable Lois Mitchell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta joined Deputy Commissioner Marianne Ryan, Commanding Officer of the Alberta RCMP, in the presentation of awards for bravery, outstanding service, appreciation and long service to RCMP employees.

Constable Matthew Doane received the Commanding Officer’s Commendation for Bravery, which recognizes courage in the face of dangerous circumstances beyond those commonly encountered in routine police work.

On March 28, 2014, police officers from the Rocky Mountain House RCMP Detachment responded to a complaint of a suicidal female who had crawled to the unsecured side of a highway bridge.

The bridge crossed the North Saskatchewan River at a height of forty to fifty feet.

Prior to police arrival several civilians engaged with the youth and were struggling to hold onto her through the guardrails in an attempt to secure her from jumping/falling from the side of the bridge.

The youth was only 12 years old.

Upon his arrival, Cst. Doane immediately crawled to the unsecured side of the bridge and used his body to secure the female to the side of the bridge.

He then instructed another member to obtain ratchet straps from his duty bag.

Once retrieved, these straps were secured around them and the metal vertical guard rails, securing both the youth and Cst. Doane to the side of the bridge.

These actions prevented the female from being able to fall from a significant height.

Cst. Doane’s quick thinking ensured the safety of the girl while police, the fire department and civilians negotiated her successful rescue.

Cst. Doane is currently posted to the Didsbury RCMP Detachment.