Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 28, 2011
• Invested on: September 20, 2011

Sergeant André Coallier, M.B.
Constable Karine Giroux, M.B.
Constable David Pilote, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On June 22, 2009, Sergeant André Coallier and constables Karine Giroux and David Pilote, of the City of Montréal Police, risked their lives to help a young, suicidal woman, in Lasalle, Quebec. Arriving on the scene, the police officers saw the woman in the waters of the St. Lawrence River. Wearing a heavy backpack, she had difficulty keeping her head above water. Constables Giroux and Pilote grabbed a lifebuoy and swam more than 100 metres through the current to reach the woman. Sergeant Coallier swam to the mouth of the bay, where he would be able to grab the woman before she reached the rapids. Fighting against strong countercurrents, he tried to get her attention while constables Giroux and Pilote approached her from behind. They were able to gain control of the struggling woman and bring her to safety.