Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 28, 2000
• Invested on: December 08, 2000

On May 3, 1999, off-duty O.P.P. Cst. Thibodeau pulled a man out of his burning tractor-trailer truck following a collision on the Île Aux Tourtes bridge, at Vaudreuil, Quebec. One truck was rammed from behind by a second when its driver tried to avoid hitting a stalled car. The impact set one gas tank of the second truck ablaze and left its driver trapped inside. First at the scene, Cst. Thibodeau climbed onto the other tank to reach inside and was hit by smoke when he broke the window. With flames rapidly spreading inside the cab, he grabbed the driver and managed to pull him through the shattered window but the victim's leg got caught. Assisted by the other truck driver, Cst. Thibodeau succeeded in freeing the man moments before the wreck was destroyed by flames.