Bystanders recognized for helping assaulted Kelowna RCMP officer

It was a sunny Friday in Kelowna but three construction workers got to take part of the morning off.

David “Jake” Sharpe, Ronald Polack and Jay Whitesell were invited to an awards ceremony at the RCMP detachment in their honour.

Officer in Charge of the Kelowna RCMP Regional Detachment, Superintendent Nick Romanchuk, and Acting Mayor of the City of Kelowna, Luke Stack, gave each of the men Detachment Commander’s Commendation Recognition Awards, and Kelowna RCMP Challenge Coins for their work as outstanding citizens.

Just a week ago, they jumped into action when a man assaulted a police officer near their worksite.

The man had been on an alleged crime spree before hitting a police cruiser in a stolen car. After the crash, RCMP say he proceeded to assault the officer.

Sharpe, Polack and Whitesell didn’t hesitate to help out, subduing the suspect so the RCMP could do what he had to do.

On Friday, they earned more than one standing ovation when speaking of the incident.

Sharpe and Whitesell are both certified first aid attendants on their worksite, but none of them knew what they were getting into when they rushed over.

“Being a first-aid attendant I was responding to an accident and everything that transpired,” said Sharpe. “That was me just trying to help.”

Polack said they were all kind of shocked by the situation.

“It’s pretty hard to believe what you’re seeing at the time,” he said. “I don’t think we were moving at all until Jake noticed an officer was being assaulted, and that’s when everybody started moving.”

Whitesell said he was working farther back on the site and came running out when he heard the crash.

“I actually thought maybe someone got hit, a pedestrian in the crosswalk,” he explained. “That’s when we came around the corner and saw the officer being assaulted.

“In a sense, I didn’t think, just reacted. It wasn’t the help that I anticipated giving but someone needed help and I just went in and gave the help that they needed.”

When asked if any of them worried for their own safety, they all said no. Well, at first that is.

“Not until I got home when a buddy texted me and said, ‘You could’ve been hurt or killed, what were you thinking?” Whitesell said, laughing off the serious situation.

And in the future, Whitesell said he would probably do the exact same thing if needed.

“It was a reactive thought process,” he said. “So yeah, I would definitely do it again and I don’t think there would be any thought to it, it would just be, someone needs my help.”

He said being recognized for his actions was both overwhelming and unexpected.

“I’m a little taken aback,” said Whitesell. “I wouldn’t have expected something like this in just trying to help someone out, whether they’re an officer or general public.

“Certainly there’s never a thought of something like this when you go and help someone, but it’s a nice little treat.”

Whitesell said the most touching part is thinking of his family.

“It’s given my wife I think a little sense of pride I think in her husband and it’s nice to have something like this.”

The couple has two daughters, Heidi, 3, and Maya, who’s 18 months old.

“It’s something for them to grow up and be proud of their dad for and that’s the thing that means the most to me, is the pride that my family has in me.”

RCMP spokesperson Cst. Jesse O'Donaghey said while they don’t encourage the public to put themselves at risk to help others, in this situation, the witnesses actions turned out to be for the best.

“The situation could’ve ended a lot differently, and perhaps even tragically, had they not stepped up and went above and beyond, so we’re very thankful for that,” he said.

O’Donaghey said the situation is still under investigation.

The officer who was assaulted has been released from hospital and is still recovering.

The 42-year-old suspect from Chase B.C. is currently in police custody. Mark Fines has been charged with robbery, assaulting a police officer, assault with a weapon, assault and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. He is expected to appear back in court on May 3, 2016.