VPD Chief Constable's Commendation: Constables Byron Capers and Courtney Emerslund
Channel: Vancouver Police Department
Date: 15/03/2019

December 23, 2018, was a cold, dark, and rainy winter evening. Just before 6:00 p.m., witnesses noticed a distraught woman arguing with someone on the north side of the Vancouver Convention Centre. She removed her jacket, climbed over the railing, and jumped approximately 60 feet into the frigid waters of Coal Harbour.

When Vancouver Police Constables Byron Capers and Courtney Emerslund arrived, they could see the woman struggling to keep her head above water. She was calling out for help, as she went under the water.

The constables rushed to the end of a long, concrete breakwater to get close to the victim. They quickly removed their boots and all of their police gear. Additional officers, who had just arrived, lowered flotation devices to them. Without hesitation, the two officers jumped into the ocean, swam out to the unconscious woman, and pulled her back to the breakwater. They performed CPR but to no avail. 

Other officers helped move the woman to the Vancouver Police marine boat, where she was treated with an AED. Her heart restarted and she was taken to hospital.

For an act of bravery in an extremely hazardous situation, and taking a substantial personal risk to save a life, Constables Byron Capers and Courtney Emerslund are award the Chief Constable’s Commendation.