Award for police officer's bravery

Constable Gerhard Strydom. Photo / Martin Sykes

Constable Gerhard Strydom can't recall what was going through his mind as a mentally unwell man came at him with two large kitchen knives and a gas lighter.

He does remember seconds later when he realised the house was on fire - and the moments before, when he had watched the man light two gas burners on the stove of a Whangaparaoa home.

Mr Strydom, a police officer of 10 years who was working alone at the time, went to the home because the man had threatened to kill his elderly wife on February 7.

Mr Strydom was yesterday acknowledged with a district commander's commendation, an award given for outstanding efforts which can include acts of bravery, for his efforts in putting out the fire, calming the man down and preventing serious injury.

It was one of three given to Waitemata police during a traditional parade held at Helensville yesterday. It was attended by top police representatives including Deputy Commissioner Rob Pope and Prime Minister John Key.

Mr Strydom told the Herald he arrived at the home to find a distressed elderly lady locked out by her husband who was suffering from dementia and wanted to kill her.

"He had locked himself in the house," he said. "There was a crack in the curtains. I could see he lit the stove ... he picked up two knives - big knives."

Mr Strydom said he smashed the ranch slider and discovered the curtains were on fire.

"I just rushed past him, told him to put the knives down and just pulled the curtains off the rails because they were well alight by then and then stomped them out - did the old dance on the curtains.

"In the meantime, he went through to his bedroom and that's where I found him, just waiting for the ambulance to turn up."

Mr Strydom said he was rapt to receive the award, one of three of its type awarded yesterday.

Constable Richard Jones received a commendation for catching and achieving a confession and guilty plea from two separate sexual offenders who had assaulted children in Whangaparaoa during 2008.

Constable Steve Hunt was given a commendation for two separate incidents in which he caught a burglar and two accomplices, and for rescuing a baby from an aggressive and agitated man during a domestic dispute.

Pay parades are a police tradition which used to occur every fortnight when officers received their pay.

Today, they are held annually in each district so the community and police officers can celebrate their pride in the force.

Helensville's main street was cordoned off as about 50 police followed the Auckland Police Pipe Band marching to the awards ceremony.

Mr Key, who is MP for the Helensville electorate, said: "It's a nice way of the community coming together to acknowledge the efforts of a lot of people who put themselves in harm's way to protect the wider community."