DeCloet recognized for bravery
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It’s not every day you put your life on the line to save another human being.
But that’s exactly what Tillsonburg resident and Norfolk OPP officer constable Ken DeCloet did on November 28, 2010 when he entered a burning home in Wyecombe, west of Simcoe.
Such heroic actions were recognized by Canada’s Governor General David Johnston Friday, in a special ceremony at Rideau Hall.
“It was definitely an honour to be a recipient,” DeCloet said in a telephone interview Monday. “Once I was up there, I was definitely very humbled to stand beside those other Canadians, whose acts of heroism and valour were very moving.”
Constable DeCloet was one of 50 Canadians presented with Decorations for Bravery in Ottawa last week. Selected individuals and decorations were divided into two categories, totalling four Stars of Courage and 46 Medals of Bravery.
The Norfolk OPP officer was presented with a medal of bravery and cited for his efforts to rescue a woman, Kathy Vermeulen, age 51, from a burning home. Sadly, she did not survive and died two days later in hospital.
“The thing I’ve never lost sight of was the fact that there are some people who, tragically in this case, lost a wife, a mother, a sister and we all lost a valued member of our community,” he said. “That’s definitely something that keeps you grounded through the whole thing.”
DeCloet said his actions that cold November day were a part of the job as a police officer, and was something that he never thought twice about.
“I believe this award is actually a testament to the actions of all the men and women of the OPP – they would all go the same lengths to save a life,” DeCloet added. “The difference being I was fortunate enough to be recognized for those efforts in this case.”
He praised the volunteer fire fighters and Norfolk EMS members who also worked hard to save Vermeulen’s life.
Constable DeCloet began his career with the Haldimand/Norfolk Regional Police in 1996 and shortly after the amalgamation, became an OPP officer with the Norfolk OPP detachment. With several years in the Ontario Provincial Police, DeCloet is no stranger to risking his life, and has received two other nominations in recent years, including the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery in 2011 and the Royal Canadian Humane Bravery Award, the Silver Medal, in 2012. The Medal of Bravery awarded by the Governor General is the pinnacle of all three, noted DeCloet.
“He went out of his way to take time to speak with my daughter,” he said. “His Excellency was a wonderful, stately man – very down to earth.”
Constable DeCloet is grateful for the support he has been shown by family, friends and fellow officers and appreciates the once in a lifetime honour.
It is a career that means much to him, shown in his dedication and commitment to serving others that keeps constable Ken DeCloet not only fulfilling his role as an OPP officer, but going above and beyond the call of duty every day.
“It all comes down to the simple thank you that you occasionally get from a member of the public. That simple thank you makes it worthwhile,” said DeCloet. “If you can improve the quality of life in your community, with a simple thank you every now and then – those two things are what the job is about to me.”