Hero Golspie police officer receives First Minister's Brave@Heart award
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A HEROIC Sutherland police officer, who bravely engaged with a suicidal man with a firearm, has received a First Minister’s Brave@Heart award.
Golspie-based Police Constable David (Dave) Thompson (59) was presented with his award by First Minister Humza Yousaf at a glittering ceremony in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle last Tuesday.
PC Thompson’s wife Dawn proudly watched while her husband was honoured.
The Brave@Heart awards recognise acts of bravery and heroism across Scotland with nominations made by the emergency services and winners selected by an independent validation panel.
The alarming incident for which PC Thompson has been recognised happened in August 2021.
He was informed by the police control room about a potentially suicidal man with weapons in his car heading north towards Golspie.
PC Thompson followed the man in question from Golspie to near Thurso where the man stopped on a single-track road and got out of his car with a shotgun which he put under his chin.
With no thoughts for his own safety, PC Thompson walked over to him and started talking. He was on his own for about 15 minutes before colleague Sergeant Jonny Wilkin joined them – other colleagues were at a distance.
PC Thompson talked for around 45 minutes in total and then said he was going to get the man some water.
At that point the man turned his back and Sgt Wilkin tasered him. The man was taken to hospital.
Police Scotland recognised PC Thompson's bravery in February by presenting him with a Chief Constable’s Bravery and Excellence Award 2022 at an event held at the Scottish Police College, Tulliallan.
These awards recognise “outstanding acts of bravery and excellence across Scotland”.
Originally from Kent, PC Thompson and his wife, who have two daughters, moved north around 20 years ago. His grandmother hailed from Reay and the family used to holiday frequently in the area.
Prior to joining the police aged 46, PC Thomson worked as a postman, in a call centre and sold printing equipment.
He decided to change career after chatting to a police recruitment officer when he was shopping one day at Eastgate Centre, Inverness. His wife said: "I think he was the oldest on the course when he did his training!"
His first posting was to Dornoch from where he moved to Golspie. He is currently Courts and Warrants Officer at Tain Sheriff Court.
He is search-trained and was involved in the Commonwealth Games, COP26, the Queen’s funeral and the G7 summit.
