Inverness officer shortlisted for Scottish Police Federation Award after restraining violent man who knocked out her colleague
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An Inverness police officer who restrained a violent man who knocked out her colleague is to be recognised at a national awards ceremony.
PC Katy Mackay was shortlisted in the Scottish Police Federation bravery awards category, along with two fellow officers from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The probationary officer sprung into action to restrain the dangerous man who headbutted her colleague and knocked him unconscious.
She and the colleague were flagged down in Inverness by a member of the public after a taxi driver was assaulted in September last year.
They found a man acting aggressively and could see the taxi driver had sustained facial injuries.
When the suspect was approached by the two constables, he became aggressive and abusive before headbutting her colleague, causing him to lose consciousness for a short period.
He suffered a concussion that required hospital treatment.
PC Mackay continued to struggle with the man, who was considerably larger than her, and then managed to release incapacitant spray before restraining and handcuffing him.
PC Mackay, who only had around 18 months of service when the incident occurred, was praised for her “cool head” in controlling the man.
PC Mackay said: “It was just a normal Friday backshift. We heard the radio saying there was a disturbance ongoing throughout different locations in the town.
“As we came up through the town, we got flashed down by a member of the public to say that a taxi driver had been assaulted.
“We headed on up to the hill to where the taxi was, and I got out and spoke to him. He said the suspect was just around the corner, so I shouted to my colleague and just as I did that the boy came into our sight.
“We both got hands on and I placed the handcuffs on him and he just kicked off instantly.
“That’s when I saw him lean back and next thing, I heard the headbutt.
“I just kind of realised, ‘hang on I’m by myself’ and that’s when I felt my radio go, because my colleague had pressed the red button before he went down.
“I just remember the relief, thinking that’s fine there’s people on the way.”
The awards ceremony will be held at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Thursday, November 24.
Dozens of officers are nominated across five categories: Unsung Hero, Community Commitment, Cops’ Cop of the Year, and both Group and Individual Bravery.
