Toroto Police Const. Alexander Yuanidis was named winner of the 54 Annual Police Officer of the Year Award. Courtesy photo.
Police Const. Alexander Yuanidis is really Toronto’s top cop for now.
Yuanidis was named winner of the 54 Annual Police Officer of the Year Award on September 29 for rescuing two people trapped in a home during a three-alarm blaze in Scarborough.
Const. Yuanidis rescued two men from a three-alarm blaze. Photo by Veronica Henri; Toronto Sun.
The 16-year veteran, who is based in 43 Division, was called to a fire call in May 2020 where residents were trapped inside a home. He saw a ‘fireball explode” on the north side of the home when he arrived.
“He went to the rear of the house where he found two people trapped on the elevated rear deck,” police said. “He took immediate action, locating a ladder from a neighbour and placed it on the raised deck.”
“He then reached over the railing and brought one of the people down the ladder,” according to police. “The older resident was unable to climb over the railing so Constable Yuanidis broke through the railing with his fists and helped the resident escape to safety.”
“He also recognized the risk to neighbouring homes and worked to evacuate all nearby residents from their homes,” said Master of Ceremony Catherine McDonald, of Global News.
Yuanidis was awarded for taking a calculated risk, acting decisively and bravely, while putting his personal safety at risk in order to save others.
“I think that night was a set of very fortunate circumstances, that I was so close, I knew the area, but anyone in my situation would have done the same thing,” he told a police appreciation dinner.
“It’s a huge honour,” said Yuanidis, who was quick to point out his fellow officers perform acts of heroism on a daily basis in the city.
“Our family owes Officer Alex a great debt because he saved the patriarch of the family with three children, their partners and eight grandchildren,” said a family member who was part of the fire ordeal.
Created in 1967, the purpose of the event is to recognize officers of the Toronto Police Service who have made significant contributions to making Toronto one of the safest big cities in the world. An average of 12 officers, or a group of officers, are selected for the Police Officer Excellence Awards, based on the criteria of bravery, humanitarianism, superior investigative work and outstanding police skills.
The Police Officer of the Year Award is selected from these groups.