WATCH: Men who helped dying cop grateful for national honour
When Winston Thorpe and Josiah Wright assisted a severely injured policeman on February 15 of this year, they did not expect to be rewarded for their efforts, much less acknowledged at the national level. It was their duty, they felt, as citizens, to help someone in need, especially someone who serves and protects Jamaicans daily.
“If we can help one another, life will be better,” Thorpe told OBSERVER ONLINE.
Wright added: “Is a police officer, someone weh everyone should look out for and think about.”
The men were speaking with our news team after being presented with the Badge of Honour for Gallantry, at the 2022 National Honours and Awards ceremony held at King’s House in St Andrew on Monday.
WATCH: ‘Good Samaritans’ rewarded for helping cop left for dead
According to reports the men saw a policeman lying on the ground in a community in Portmore, St Catherine. After they approached the man, they noticed he was shot through the back and sustained life-threatening injuries. The gunman had stolen his motorcycle, service pistol and cell phone, and left the cop in the bush. Thorpe and Wright contacted the police station and stayed with the injured cop until help arrived.
Reacting to the national award, Thorpe said he felt “mightiful” having received the honour.
“I feel blessed. In the mighty name of Jesus I feel comfortable. It bring me up. So, I’m really proud and I give God the thanks and glory for a better tomorrow, not worse,” he said.
Wright echoed Thorpe’s sentiments.
“Mi feel great ‘because life is the most expensive thing on earth, and once we save a life and we look after life, life goes on and on. I feel great [to be] awarded… I feel great within myself to know that I have done something good and contribute towards life. This is something where he was injured but him have him life and him have him family just like anyone else, so thank god he’s alive,” Wright said.
Over 100 persons were awarded on Monday at the National Honours and Award Ceremony, with nine persons given the Badge of Honour for Gallantry.
Thorpe and Wright were earlier this year, following the incident, recognised by the St Catherine South Police Division, who rewarded their random act of kindness by gifting them with food baskets and cash.
