Hampshire policeman is bravest in country (From Basingstoke Gazette)

PC Alex Stypulkowski awarded at bravery awards ceremony

7:30am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Local By Gazette reporter

A HAMPSHIRE PC has been named as the bravest police officer in the country.

PC Alex Stypulkowski was stabbed repeatedly in the chest, neck and head during a frenzied attack as he tried to detain a man with mental health problems.

The heroic cop’s actions were recognised at the Police Bravery Awards ceremony in London last Thursday.

National Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever said: “PC Stypulkowski deserves the highest praise for his courage and determination in apprehending an armed maniac.”

PC Stypulkowski thought he was going to die as the man he was trying to arrest plunged what was originally thought to be a knife into him as they struggled on the floor in a dark road.

It was later discovered the man had used a screwdriver during the ferocious attack.

The frightening ordeal happened in November 2010 when the officer was deployed to assist social services to section the man, known to be violent and who had previously taken his own mother hostage, under the Mental Health Act.

But when the police arrived at the scene, the man came out of the house and ran from the officers.

Moments later, PC Stypulkowski found he had become separated from his fellow pursuing colleagues and was face-to-face with the man who was brandishing a blade.

In a sinisterly calm way, the man told PC Stypulkowski: “You’re going to die.”

The officer sprayed him in the face with CS gas and then, when that failed, he hit him across the legs with his asp baton – but he was dragged to the floor by the man as he fell.

As the two men struggled, the officer’s jacket was pulled over his head so he couldn’t see and then the vicious stabbing began.

Shortly after, another officer arrived and the man they were trying to detain again ran off.

Despite his injuries, PC Stypulkowski got up and continued the chase. The man was found hiding behind a car and was finally tackled with CS spray before a second officer used a taser gun to detain him.

At the hospital, it was discovered that Petersfield-based PC Stypulkowski had been stabbed in the head and neck. One stab wound had narrowly missed his jugular vein.

Hampshire Chief Constable Alex Marshall said: “PC Stypulkowski is a dedicated officer. His actions on that night demonstrated exceptional bravery and determination. I am extremely proud of him. He is a credit to Hampshire Constabulary.”