Brave Suffolk Cops Stop Shotgun Horror, Save Kids and Themselves
Two Suffolk police officers have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards after a heart-stopping standoff with a shotgun-wielding man threatening children and chaos at a Suffolk home.
Chaos Inside the Family Home
PC Peter French from Stowmarket and PC Jordan Tuck of Sudbury station faced a nightmare on 8 September 2019. They arrived at a house wrecked like a hurricane had hit it. Furniture and glass were smashed everywhere.
Inside the kitchen, a terrified 12-year-old girl was cowering and told them the man had stormed outside, smashing garden furniture on the way. The officers pursued him to a shed at the back.
Shotgun Threat and Fire Drama
The man suddenly appeared, pointing a shotgun at the unarmed officers. Despite their demands to drop the weapon, he swore and refused to comply. The officers wisely retreated inside, locking the doors behind them.
They rushed to evacuate three children and an adult, with one child so frightened they hid in a cupboard. The eldest later revealed the man had threatened to kill them all.
PC French radioed the tense situation and captured footage on his body cam.
The man then smashed the patio doors with the shotgun butt. He poured petrol over the shed, set it ablaze, and took position behind a hedge, aiming the shotgun back at the house.
Quick Thinking Saves the Day
Fearing the fire would spread and the man would escalate violence, PC French advised reinforcements to approach quietly without sirens or blue lights. As armed backup arrived, the man’s temper cooled — he dropped the shotgun.
The officers seized the chance, wrestled the weapon away, and arrested him. It was later revealed he had fired the shotgun but it failed to discharge.
Recognition and Praise for Heroes
Suffolk Police Federation Chairman Darren Harris said: “Jordan and Peter were incredibly brave to get these children to safety. Their courage stopped this turning into a tragedy.”
The man pleaded guilty to multiple offences including firearms violations, threats to kill, arson, and assault. He was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
PC Tuck and PC French will join fearless officers from across England and Wales at the National Police Bravery Awards ceremony in London this July — postponed from 2020 due to coronavirus.
Police Federation Chair John Apter hailed the officers as “heroes, plain and simple,” praising their “brilliant police work and complete courage.”
“We’re proud these brave officers will finally get the recognition they deserve,” he added.
