Constable Claude Majella Montfort, M.S.M., Marathon, Ont.
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)
On May 9, 1994, First Nation Constable Montfort saved the life of a fellow citizen near Marathon, Ontario. He arrived to find a horrific scene -- an unconscious man trapped in a burning vehicle that was pinned underneath a blazing tractor trailer. Quickly assessing the situation, he ensured that the man could breathe and, using a chain, he ingeniously employed his police cruiser to pull the vehicle from the wreckage in order to extricate the victim. Throughout the rescue effort, Constable Montfort maintained a high degree of composure and demonstrated exceptional professionalism.