Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: October 13, 2010
• Invested on: February 08, 2011

Constable Jean-François Rousselle, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On the night of September 3, 2008, City of Laval police constable Jean-François Rousselle rescued a suicidal woman from a submerged vehicle, in Laval, Quebec. A witness had called 911 to report that a woman had driven her car into the Rivière-des-Prairies. Although visibility was minimal at the scene, Constable Rousselle could see air bubbles in the water approximately 25 metres from shore. He climbed down the boat ramp and swam out towards the bubbling water. As he approached, the victim came up to the surface, disoriented and panicked by the cold water and darkness. Once Constable Rousselle was assured that no one else was inside the vehicle, he calmed the distraught victim down. With great difficulty, he then fought against the strong current to bring her to shore, where the other officers helped care for the woman.