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photo Cpl. Nick Armstrong, second from left, receives his Commanding Officer's Commendation in Yellowknife on Nov. 23. Armstrong earned the distinction for helping his partner, Const. Ryan Jewett, rescue two individuals in the icy waters outside Sachs Harbour last summer. Also pictured, from left, Sgt. Major Mike Cote, Chief Supt. Wade Blake and Commissioner Bob Paulson. - courtesy of Tammy McKenzie

SACHS HARBOUR/INUVIK
A man who tried to evade arrest by running into the frigid waters at Sachs Harbour last June later wrote a thank you letter dedicated to the RCMP officers who saved him.

On Nov. 27, Cpl. Nick Armstrong and Const. Ryan Jewett were both awarded the Commanding Officer's Commendation for rescuing the man, who had plunged into the icy waters in Sachs Harbour after officers attempted to arrest him at a nearby residence.

Neighbours had complained about a fight between two intoxicated men, Armstrong said.

After police arrived, one of the men took off down the beach and straight into the Beaufort Sea. It was June 21, the week after spring breakup. Sheets of ice still dotted the harbour.

"The water was just about freezing, one degree above, maybe," Armstrong said. "He walked out to a small sheet of ice that was about chest-deep in water. When he attempted to get on that first sheet, the edge broke and he went into the water over his head."

The 31-year-old officer said he and Jewett knew they had to get the man out of the water quickly.

Unfortunately, it was more than just a matter of jumping in and getting him, he added. The man was intent on committing suicide and told officers he wanted to die.

Armstrong said the suspect managed to make it back onto the ice, moving to an even larger ice sheet even further out.

"We were pretty fearful, given the temperature and the fact that he was completely soaked, that he would be hypothermic fairly quickly," Armstrong said. "We pleaded to him to come back to shore."

That's when Jewett remembered there was a wetsuit in his staff residence.

By this time, a female relative of the suspect had arrived and worked with Armstrong to try and get the man to come back to shore.

"We told her not to go in, just to talk to him with us," he said.

But a few minutes later when Armstrong turned to check if Jewett was heading back down the beach, she, too, ran into the water.

Now equipped with a wetsuit, Jewett returned and headed to the ice sheet while the female relative tried to distract the suspect so he wouldn't see Jewett coming.

When he approached him, Jewett realized the man had rocks in his hands. He said the woman helped him make the man release the rocks.

"The family member assisted with getting those out of his hand as I was holding him down," he said.

Armstrong saw his partner struggling and realized it would take both of them to bring the man in.

"At that point it looked as though Ryan (Jewett) was not going to be able to control him on his own," he said. "I was fearful they were both going to fall off the far edge of the second ice sheet."

Armstrong ran into the water wearing his entire uniform except for his vest and radio, which he left on the beach with a male resident who had arrived.

"I wasn't able to leave my gun belt behind," Armstrong said. "That stayed on."

The pair of officers arrested the suspect, then began the difficult journey back to shore.

The woman looked like she was going into shock and the man was showing signs of hypothermia.

They made it back and the man and woman were brought to the health centre.

Armstrong said he remembers how bitterly cold the water was that day.

"The water was absolutely freezing, I can't even describe how cold the water was," he said. "It was unreal."

Jewett said he was thankful for the help of the man's relative and the man on the beach.

Armstrong said he was proud to receive the award, but said many other officers across Canada perform similar acts of bravery in the line of duty.

"You don't do those types of things for recognition, you do them because they're the right thing to do," he said.

Jewett said the man's letter of thanks was more important to him than an award.

"He was grateful that we were there," he said. "Knowing he actually wrote the letter and thanked us, that meant quite a bit to me. Nick and I were there that day and were able to help him in his time of need."

An emergency call came just after 6:30 a.m. in Inuvik on Sept. 16, 2011. A house was on fire and a toddler, almost two years old, was still inside.

The Mounties were the first responders to arrive.

"We were called out before shift," Const. Todd Glemser said. "We got a call that there was a fire at a residence. We went straight there and people outside were saying there was still a child inside."

Glemser and his partner, Const. Andrew Aucoin, 28, immediately ran into the house, which was now engulfed in flames.

Glemser said neither he nor Aucoin said a word to each other before making the split decision.

"There was no concern for what the consequences of running into a burning building were," he said. "There was no discussion between myself and Aucoin. We were on the same page and we both did the same thing."

They found the toddler and made it back outside, but the child wasn't breathing. The officers went to the Inuvik Regional Hospital with the child, who had by then died.

Both officers received the Commissioner Commendation for Bravery thanking them for risking their lives to try and save the child's life.

Glemser said while he appreciates the acknowledgement of his colleagues, it's impossible for him to be overjoyed about the award.

"It's nice to be recognized for your efforts, but at the same time the outcome wasn't the way we wanted it to go," Glemser said. "It's still tough to deal with."

Aucoin agreed but felt "conflicted" after receiving the award.

"You feel honoured, but it's at someone else's misfortune," he said.

He also said trying to save lives is sometimes part of an officer's job.

"It's almost like you don't really deserve an award," he said. "It's just everyday, your job that you do."

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