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Former Rocky Mountain House RCMP officer awarded for bravery

An RCMP officer crawled out onto a bridge to help save a 12-year-old suicidal girl.
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Deputy Commissioner Marianne Ryan, Commanding Officer of the Alberta RCMP, and Cst. Matthew Doane, at an awards ceremony on Tuesday.

An RCMP officer who crawled out onto a bridge in the Rocky Mountain House area to rescue a 12-year-old suicidal girl has received an award for his bravery.

On March 28, 2014, police officers from the Rocky Mountain House RCMP Detachment responded to a complaint that the girl had crawled to the unsecured side of a highway bridge over the North Saskatchewan River.

Prior to police arriving, several civilians engaged with the youth and were struggling to hold onto her through the guardrails in an attempt to secure her from jumping or falling. The bridge crossed the river at a height of 12 to 15 metres (40 to 50 feet).

Upon his arrival, Const. Matthew Doane immediately crawled to the unsecured side of the bridge and used his body to secure the girl to the side of the bridge. He then instructed another member to get ratchet straps from his duty bag.

The straps were then secured around them and the metal vertical guard rails, securing both the youth and Doane to the side of the bridge. These actions prevented the female from being able to fall from a significant height.

Doane’s quick thinking ensured the safety of the girl while police, the fire department and civilians negotiated her successful rescue.

Doane received the Commanding Officer’s Commendation for Bravery, which recognizes courage in the face of dangerous circumstances beyond those commonly encountered in routine police work at a private ceremony on Tuesday.

The Honorable Lois Mitchell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, joined Deputy Commissioner Marianne Ryan, Commanding Officer of the Alberta RCMP, to present awards for bravery, outstanding service, appreciation and long service to RCMP employees.

“From dedicating their lives to serving the citizens of our nation to risking their lives to save others, I am so very proud of these employees and their contribution to the safety and security of Canadians,” Ryan said.

Doane is currently posted to the Didsbury RCMP Detachment.