Constable Melbourne James Birmingham, M.B.
Constable Shaun MacLennan, M.B.
Medal of Bravery
On October 14, 2004, in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Regional Police constables Mel Birmingham and Shaun MacLennan saved a suicidal man from drowning in the ocean. From a 25-metre-high cliff, the police officers spotted the victim's head bobbing up and down with the ocean tide, some five metres from shore. Realizing that the man was in trouble, they made their way down the steep cliff to the rocky beach and entered the cold, choppy waters to reach his side. Battling the strong current, they grabbed hold of the resisting man, brought him to shore and remained with him until emergency services arrived.
Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2007-06-21
Invested on: 2008-02-29
Constable Darren Wayne Barrington, M.B.
Constable Melbourne James Birmingham, M.B.*
Acting Sergeant Wayne MacDonald, M.B.*
Medal of Bravery
On October 29, 2004, Cape Breton Regional Police constables Darren Barrington and Mel Birmingham, and acting Sergeant Wayne MacDonald entered a burning home to rescue an octogenarian, in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia. Unable to cross the wall of flames that blocked the front entrance, the rescuers raced around the house and broke through the rear door. Crawling on their hands and knees, constables Barrington and Birmingham located the victim lying on the kitchen floor, a few metres from their entry point. While the officers grabbed the victim by the arms, acting Sergeant MacDonald pulled them by their belts and guided them outside to safety. Both victim and rescuers suffered from severe smoke inhalation that required medical attention.
* This is the second award of a Medal of Bravery for both Constable Birmingham and acting Sergeant MacDonald.