'You don't expect to deal with that in real life': Awards handed out to heroic Calgarians

Steve Pool was one of three people who risked their lives to save a woman in a burning car.

"It was surreal. It's like something out of a movie. You don't expect to deal with that in real life," Pool told The Homestretch on Thursday.

As he was leaving his home in Lakeview one morning, he noticed something on fire. It was a car. Then he heard cries for help coming from inside thecar.

The trio was able to get the woman out of the passenger door, but another person in the car wasn't so lucky.

"That car was totally engulfed. There was nothing we could have done even with a fire extinguisher."

He says he will never forget that experience.

"You have to do what you have to do," Pool said.

"I don't know how you shake it. It's likely something that will be with me for the rest of my life."

Pool was one of 29 civilians honoured Thursday as part of the Calgary Police Service Chief's Awards Gala.

The awards honourCPS members and members of the public who "performed exemplary acts of courage and commitment to their community."

Along with 29 civilians, the awards are also recognizing 29 citizens, one RCMP member, two EMS personnel, two AHSmembers, two 911 communication officers, one CPS civilian member and 36 sworn CPS members.

Here are some of the stories,however some award recipients have not been listed for privacy reasons, or due to matters that are currently before the courts.

Steve Pool, Christian Prada Fletes, Edgar JoseBoscanAward of Exceptional Recognition for Valour

In late January, a car on theCrowchildtoGlenmoreTrail ramp slammed into the concrete barrier, and rolled down the slope where it struck a tree, and burst into flames.

Steve Pool was driving in the opposite direction when saw the fire. He immediately turned his vehicle around and waved down another car. Two men Christian Prada Fletes, and EdgarBoscan joined Pool and ran toward the fire where a woman in the passenger seat screaming for help.

While two of the men went back to their vehicle to grab fire extinguishers and call 911, Pool, with flames lapping at his face and hands, cut the woman free from her seatbelt.

He pulled her throughwindow to safety. But when the mentried to go back for the driver, the car was fully engulfed in flames.

Despite everyone's best efforts, the driver of the vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Gabrielle Gonzalez Award of Exceptional Recognition for Valour, Ashley Wanamaker Award of Exceptional Recognition for Life Saving

In early September, a woman a war veteran from the U.S. was slashingherself with an X-Acto knife outside a Walmart and screaming that she wanted to die.

Gabrielle Gonzalez stepped in and managed to wrestle the knife away, despite the woman being twice her size.

The woman tried to end her life in other ways, but each time, Gonzalez maintained her composure and tried to calm the woman, even as the woman became agitated and violent.

Out of the large crowd of bystanders, Ashley Wanamaker was the only one to call 911 and relay information topolice.

Police arrived and took the woman into custody for her safety..

Ben Youe and Joseph D'AngeloAward of Exceptional Recognition

In early September, a woman was loading her young daughter into the backseat of their SUV after a dance lesson when she noticed a man standing nearby.

As the mother climbed into the driver's seat, the man opened the rear door and violently grabbed her daughter's arm and tried to pull her from the vehicle. The mother grabbed the girl's other arm and started to yell for help.

Ben Youe and Joseph D'Angelo heard the commotion and rushed over. Seeing the men, the suspect let go of the girl and ran. D'Angelo gave chase as Youe stayed with the family and called 911.

D'Angelo found the suspect nearby and led him back to the scene. The suspect was arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping.

Patrick Morrissey and David Jacewicz Award of Exceptional Recognition for Valour

An argument between a man and a woman at a Co-Op in late September turned violent when an employee told the couple their argument was disrupting customers.

The couple turned on the employee and she was struck on the back of the head with a baton and collapsed to the ground.

Several people jumped in to help. David Jacewicz had his hand broken when he was struck with the baton as he stepped in to keep the man from running at his friend.

Patrick Morrissey then jumped in and tackled the man and held him down, Morrissey kept the man pinned down and managed to remove the weapon from his hand. Jacewicz, despite his injuries, helped secure the man.

The woman then grabbed a screwdriver from her purse and tried to free her boyfriend. Another man who stepped in was stabbed in the neck with the screwdriver as he tried to prevent the woman from attacking them men subduing her boyfriend.

A freshly retired CPS constable in the storethen wrestledwith the woman to subdue her and remove the screwdriver from her hand. During the struggle, the woman ripped the retired constable's earrings through her earlobes. Despite this, she kept the woman pinned with the help of bystanders.

Police arrested the couple and charged them with robbery and assault.

Steven Froehler Award of Exceptional Recognition for Valour

In late September, a woman lost control of her vehicle and smashed into a Petro Canada gas pump.The vehicle burst into flames on impact, trapping the woman.

As other people were getting in their cars to drive away from the flames, fearing an explosion, Steven Froehler stopped his car and ran towardthe burning vehicle.

Froehler grabbed his Leatherman and a sledge hammer from a passerby to break the the window and pull the woman her car, away from the thick smoke and flames.

The woman only suffered minor injuries because of Froehler's fearless efforts.

Rodney Page Award of Exceptional Recognition

A group of friends were hanging out in Riley Park in early July when a stranger approached them and coaxed one of the women away.The man then forced the woman to the ground and sexually assaulted her.

The victim got away and ran back to her friends, as the offender ran the other way.

The offender then met up with Rodney Page and told him he upset a girl in the park. Page convinced the offender to go back to the group and apologize to the woman and escorted him back to the group.

The group told Page what actually happened and the offender ran. Page tackled the offender and held him until police arrived.

The offender was arrested and charged with assault and sexual assault with a weaponafter police found a knife near where the incident took place.

Shawn Shier Award of Exceptional Recognition

In March, Shawn Shier was heading into a bank when he noticed a man acting suspiciouslyoutside the bank doors.

Shier followed the man inside and as he waited in line, he noticed the man speak with a teller, who then moved to another wicket to collect several bills and gave them to the man.

As the man left the bank, Shier asked him if everything was OK and followed him outside.

Shier then went back inside to ask if the bank had just been robbed. When his suspicions were confirmed he chased the suspect and caught him in a nearby parking lot. He then walked the man back to the bank and waited for police.

The accused was a serial bank robber.

"Calgary Police Service does not recommend bystanders put their safety at risk by approaching alleged criminals, Shawn used soundjudgmentand Calgary is safer because of his brave actions," Calgary police said in a release.

Jason Anuik Award of Exceptional Recognition for Life Saving

One afternoon last June, a mental health patient on a pass from the Foothills hospital broke away from her supervisor and ran down a steep embankment into the Bow River in an attempt to end her life.

Nurse Jason Anuik and Calgary peace officer working for Alberta Health Services, were alerted and swam into the fast, cold river, to get the patient safely back to shore.

Here is a full list of the winners:

• Jason Anuik Award of Exceptional Recognition for Life Saving
• Gabrielle Gonzalez Award of Exceptional Recognition for Valour
• Ashely Wanamaker Award of Exceptional Recognition for Life Saving
• Ben Youe and Joseph D'Angelo Award of Exceptional Recognition
• Patrick Morrissey and David Jacewicz Award of Exceptional Recognition for Valour
• Tom and Debra Mauro Award of Exceptional Recognition for Community Service
• Steven Froehler Award of Exceptional Recognition for Valour
• Steve Pool, Christian Alfonso Prado, Edgar Jose Boscan Award of Exceptional Recognition for Valour
• Rodney Page Award of Exceptional Recognition
• Shawn Shier Award of Exceptional Recognition
• Constable Peter Jadczyk Excellence in Mental Health Intervention
• Constable Rayn Boyko Community Service Award
• Constable Mike Calhoun Community Service Award
• Const. Kathy Bowman Life Saving Award
• Const. Ryan Schroeder Life Saving Award

Const. Dan Allen Award of Valour

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With files from The Homestretch