Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1995-06-22
Invested on: 1995-09-15
On August 16, 1993, Cst. Béliveau of the Laval Police Department helped rescue a man who attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the Pius IX Bridge between Montréal and Laval, in Quebec. In response to a call about a depressed individual, the police arrived at the bridge as the man was clambering over the parapet. He fell suddenly, but was able to grab on to the bridge deck. The officers rushed forward and grabbed his wrists through the bars. Realizing that it would be impossible to pull him in from that position, Cst. Béliveau straddled the parapet and, bracing himself against it, leaned out to grab the victim by the belt. The man was pulled in and turned over to the ambulance attendants who had arrived on the scene.