News / Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Watch: Police officer confronts knife-wielding man in Staple Hill
A police officer has been commended for “selfless courage” following a dramatic confrontation in which he was threatened by a man wielding three long knives.
Body-worn camera footage shows the moment PC Chris Wright placed himself between unarmed colleagues and David Wilkie, who rushed towards them with the weapons just outside Pleasant House block of flats in Staple Hill in June last year.
Ensuring first that residents were safely inside, PC Wright told other officers to get back inside police cars while he stood his ground, taser drawn.
is needed now More than ever
When Wilkie continued to advance with the knives in his hand, he was tasered and then handcuffed and arrested. The 41-year-old was later charged with affray, possession of a bladed article, common assault and criminal damage, and was jailed for 12 months at Bristol Crown Court at the end of July.
Reflecting on the events of June 16, PC Wright, who has been in the force for 16 years and has now been promoted to sergeant, says it did hit home afterwards.
“In all my years of service, this is the first time I’ve actually thought, ‘I’m in trouble here’ but we are well trained in how to deal with scenarios like this, and thankfully the training kicked in,” he says.
“I was worried about my colleagues, as none of them were equipped with taser and they didn’t have time to flee. I told them to get back into the car but he came down the stairs too quickly. Thankfully the taser worked and nobody was injured.
“Once it was over it did hit home and it made me reflect on what happened.
“I’m honoured to receive the commendation. It was nice to be recognised but I also want to point out that my colleagues are out there putting themselves in harm’s way every day.”
Chief constable Andy Marsh (left) commended sergeant Chris Wright for his “selfless courage” – photo courtesy of Avon and Somerset Police
Chief constable Andy Marsh said: “This was an incredibly brave officer who put himself in the line of danger to keep the public safe.
“Sergeant Wright was calm and measured when faced with a threatening and aggressive armed man and used all of his training and experience to engage with the suspect, before using his taser when all other options had been exhausted. After the taser was discharged, he kept talking to the man and made sure he was given the appropriate after-care.
“He fully deserves this commendation which is in recognition of his selfless courage in what was clearly an extremely volatile situation.”
Main image courtesy of Avon and Somerset Police
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
