N.B. police officer honoured

Michael Staples (Daily Gleaner) – A former Oromocto Mountie is being honoured for his role six years ago in rescuing a family from a burning vehicle in Yellowknife, N.W.T.

Jean Dufour of Mactaquac, who spent 20 of his 28 years as an RCMP officer in New Brunswick, will receive the Commissioner’s Commendation for Bravery Award at a yet-to-be-announced date from William Elliott, Canada’s top police officer.

“I am sure the new members will see this and say that it (a career in the RCMP) is not all bad,” Dufour said in an interview. “At least Ottawa recognizes the work we do and it is not what you see in the paper all the time – all negative.”

Dufour said he will never forget June 21, 2004 – the day the incident occurred.

Dufour was working as a shift superviser in Yellowknife when a call was received from a woman saying that her husband, who she was separated from, had just visited the house and had picked up their two daughters – five and eight years old.

The woman was told she would never see them again, Dufour said, and she was afraid her husband would kill the children and/or himself.

The good thing about Yellowknife is there is only one major route out of the city.

“When I was done talking to her, I jumped in a car and I headed for the road (needed) to go out,” said Dufour, a native of Chicoutimi, Que.

“I was behind another member and she advised me that the car we were looking for was ahead of her.”

Once the suspect noticed police, he started driving towards a five-ton dump truck. The two children were in the back.

“He just headed straight for the truck and accelerated to hit the truck,” Dufour said. “He hit the truck really, really hard. The driver of the truck saw him coming and tried to miss him, but it was too late and the car hit him head on.”

The vehicle quickly caught fire, Dufour said, but he and the other members were able to get the two girls out.

Dufour returned to the car to make sure there was no one else inside other than the father.

“I went to the windows and tried to pull him out … and I couldn’t do it,” he said. “I called a couple of other members to give me a hand and (we) got him out. Just a few minutes later, the car was completely burned.”

The two children escaped with trauma to their lips and noses, but no major injuries. The father later died at the hospital.

Dufour described it as a grisly experience.

“It happened so quickly that you just have to make the right decision,” Dufour said. “I had over 20 years of experience in the force … but it’s stressful, extremely stressful. You had to be quick to get him out of there, to get the kids out and to make sure they were safe …That was a long day.”

In an April 21 letter to Dufour informing him of the award, Assistant Commissioner Wayne Lang, commander of the RCMP in New Brunswick, praised his officer.

“You demonstrated bravery and outstanding courage in the face of very dangerous and volatile circumstances, not commonly encountered in routine police work,” Lang wrote.

“You placed your own life at risk in preventing three persons from burning in a vehicle. You have brought credit to yourself and the force.”

Dufour’s old boss at District 2 RCMP in Oromocto, Insp. Mike O’Malley, said Dufour was exposed to many different things and did a great job for them while he was here in Oromocto.

“It’s no surprise to me, given a situation where someone’s life was in jeopardy, (that) Jean would have done everything he could to save that individual,” O’Malley said.

He said Dufour was an officer who was always looking for challenges, such as volunteering for UN missions abroad.

Dufour said he will accept the award with pride and honour.