Brave Sheffield police officers who tackled violent gunman while unarmed nominated for national awards

Two brave Sheffield police officers who tackled a violent gunman and got him off the streets, while they were unarmed, have been nominated for national bravery awards.
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PC Emma Rae and PC Karen Gunnill from Snig Hill Station have been nominated for The National Police Bravery Awards following their courageous actions.

It comes after PC Rae was patrolling Ecclesall Road in January earlier this year in a public order van and she received a call alerting officers to a potential firearms incident on the street.

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Armed reveller, Luca Premi, 24, of Treswell Crescent, Hillsborough discharged an imitation firearm at the Kettle Black bar on January 10.

Luca Premi, 24, of Treswell Crescent, Hillsborough, Sheffield, was jailed for three years after he admitted an assault and to possessing an imitation firearm and a knife.Luca Premi, 24, of Treswell Crescent, Hillsborough, Sheffield, was jailed for three years after he admitted an assault and to possessing an imitation firearm and a knife.
Luca Premi, 24, of Treswell Crescent, Hillsborough, Sheffield, was jailed for three years after he admitted an assault and to possessing an imitation firearm and a knife.

Security staff believed the 24-year-old was carrying a knife and he was removed from the premises.

A fight broke out outside the bar between Premi and the man who identified his faux weapon and the defendant pushed through security staff and ran at the complainant with a six-inch-long, black coloured revolver style weapon, Mr Coxon said.

Staff thought the gun looked genuine and were concerned Premi was going to shoot the man, when the victim fell and the defendant pointed the gun at the man, Mr Coxon told the court.

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According to Mr Coxon, employees then heard a bang and saw Premi use the firearm to strike the man in the head, which left him with a fractured shoulder.

PC Emma Rae.PC Emma Rae.
PC Emma Rae.

CCTV footage captured the moment the defendant, who was wearing a cream coloured puffa coat fired a shot from a weapon and pistol-whipped the man.

Premi then fled the scene in a taxi which was pursued by police, PC Rae who was unarmed managed to follow the cab in her van and radio a description of the vehicle and the wanted man to fellow officers.

She kept tracking the taxi while firearms officers were called to intercept.

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Premi then stopped the taxi and got out of the vehicle, pausing to pay the driver, before running off on foot.

Police officers searched Ponderosa Park, Sheffield, for evidence following a shooting at the Kettle Black bar on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.Police officers searched Ponderosa Park, Sheffield, for evidence following a shooting at the Kettle Black bar on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.
Police officers searched Ponderosa Park, Sheffield, for evidence following a shooting at the Kettle Black bar on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

The thought-to-be armed defendant was then chased by PC Rae to the nearby Ponderosa Park, knowing that he had to be detained to protect the public.Premi then ran around the corner into PC Karen Gunnill, who had been on containment patrol in the area.

PC Gunnill spotted the man was reaching for his waistband in an apparent attempt to get out the gun and challenged him to stop what he was doing with her Taser.The brave officer then fired the taser when the 24-year-old refused to comply, stopping him in his tracks and allowing officers to make the arrest.

He was found to be carrying a lock-knife having discarded the gun, an imitation air weapon, before his arrest.Premi, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause violence and possessing a knife.

He was sentenced to three years in prison for the offence.

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Judge Graham Reeds QC told Premi: “This was an offence where a gun was pointed and fired at a person you chased outside a crowded bar in Sheffield.”

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent said the officers' actions made them worthy nominees for the national awards.“As far as our colleagues knew this man was carrying a firearm and had already inflicted an injury on a member of the public,” he said.“They are police officers though and they carried on towards that danger with one thought in their minds.

"To protect the public from this dangerous individual.“The officers knew he had to be detained as soon as possible and showed incredible determination and bravery to get the job done.

"We are very proud of them both.”

The 25th National Police Bravery Awards Ceremony was due to take place in July but was postponed due to pandemic and is set to take place in London in July 2021.

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The ceremony which honours officers from across England and Wales aims to highlight the people who have performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty.

PC Rae and PC Gunnill will attend a prestigious daytime reception and evening awards ceremony, alongside the other nominees next year for the event’s 25th anniversary which is sponsored by Police Mutual.John Apter, National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, added: “We are incredibly proud of all the nominees from across England and Wales.

"The actions of these courageous officers provide a small snapshot of the amazing work our colleagues carry out day in and day out.“PC Emma Rae and PC Karen Gunnill proved once again how brave our colleagues across the country are.

"They had no idea that this was not a real weapon.

"What brilliant and courageous police work.

"We are very proud of them.

“As a Police Federation, we wanted to make sure these brave officers received the recognition they deserve in the year their actions were meant to be celebrated.

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"And we look forward to seeing them all in person – and revealing regional and national winners - when the time is right in 2021.”John Perks, Chief Executive Officer of Police Mutual, said: “Police Mutual is, as always, proud to be supporting the National Police Bravery Awards in its 25th anniversary year.

"Despite having to postpone the original ceremony, the officers’ courage has never been forgotten – they all showed commitment to keeping the public safe in the most demanding of circumstances.“We very much look forward to meeting all the nominated officers in July 2021 for the ceremony, and our chance to give our thanks in person.”

‘You’ve got this bro’: Sheffield rallies round man fighting for life after Ecclesall Road attackThank you to all who support local journalism with a digital or print subscription to The Star. The events of 2020 mean trusted, local journalism is more reliant than ever on your support. We couldn't do it without you. Subscribe here so we can keep campaigning on your behalf. Stay safe.