FOUR Tavistock police officers were recently awarded with high level commendations for their effective and dedicated work in the West Devon policing area. Each year the Commander of the Local Policing Area (LPA) selects officers or staff who have made an outstanding contribution in certain areas. The North and West Devon policing area includes ten stations —Barnstaple, Bideford, Tavistock, Okehampton, South Molton, Braunton, Holsworthy, Torrington, Lynton and Ilfracombe. From the many officers in these stations, PCSO Kevin Williams, from Tavistock Police Station, was named local policing officer of the year, and PC Cathy Veale, PC Issy Burns and PCSO Dave Chapple, also from Tavistock, were awarded the commander's certificate. In a citation read out during the awards' evening, police officers and guests heard how PCSO Williams was a highly motivated, committed and driven officer who was a 'huge asset to local policing and regularly contributed his thoughts at a strategic level'. It was mentioned that PCSO Williams had reduced assaults in Tavistock Meadows by 90% and had been involved in introducing barriers in Bedford Car Park, cutting anti-social behaviour complaints by 60%, constantly analysing and addressing local problems and was gifted in dealing with teenagers. Sgt Dave Anning, from Tavistock Police Station, said: 'Kevin has a unique ability to deal with problems at both a strategic and personal level. 'I am extremely pleased that Kevin has been recognised with this award. It is not often that an individual can put their name to so many pieces of work that have had such a significant impact on a beat area or on the lives of individuals. He is part of an extremely effective team of officers working from Tavistock and across West Devon.' PC Burns, response officer for West Devon based in Tavistock, and PC Veale, neighbourhood beat manager for Tavistock, received the commendation for the roles they played in dealing with a life changing collision involving a motorcycle on Blackdown, Mary Tavy, on October 6, 2013. The award was for professionalism, strength of character and compassion and for their actions by assisting the paramedics, securing a complicated scene to allow emergency services to act safely and prompt evacuation of the casualty, and for an effective investigation. In the citation it said that the senior investigating officer appointed to oversee the investigation of the collision was 'extremely impressed by the skills demonstrated by these officers'. On August 27, PCSO Chapple was in Tavistock town centre and a young man experiencing a period of difficulty and crisis was posing a danger to himself and members of the public. The young man ran to the top of a metal stairway of a building and swung one leg over the railing, as if to throw himself off. PCSO Chapple ran up after him and tackled him away from the railings and managed to restrain him until colleagues arrived to assist. It was read that the incident had 'real potential to result in serious injury or death and to those trying to keep him safe', and that 'PCSO Chapple acted in the best traditions of the police service — putting others before himself'. Sgt Dave Anning added: 'PCSOs are not supposed to get involved in confrontational or dangerous incidents. 'In this case, Dave realised the lad was going to be very seriously injured and acted in the best traditions of the police service, without any consideration for his own safety.' In relation to the same incident, two local women Marilyn Harris and Hayley Gwatkins, received awards for their help. They worked hard and used all their expertise in defusing the situation and ensuring the safety for all involved.