Keith Farraway and Kenneth “Ken” Lamb
The Ontario Medal for Police Bravery
This medal recognizes police officers
for individual acts of outstanding courage.
Nominations must be made through the police service.
Staff Superintendent Keith Farraway 48, and Constable Kenneth Lamb, 49, of the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Police Force received their awards for acts of bravery September 28, 1977 when a sniper terrorized citizens on East Avenue South in Hamilton.
Constable Lamb arrived on the scene after the sniper had already, firing a shotgun from a third-floor window, wounded three citizens and two police officers. The wounded policemen were having difficulty getting to cover. Lamb, with complete disregard for his own safety, dashed 50 feet in the open and dragged one officer to safety. As he was rescuing the second officer Lamb was struck in the hand by a shotgun pellet, suffering a minor hand wound.
Staff Superintendent Farraway took charge of the scene, evacuating the rooming house and ordering tear gas to be fired into the gunman’s room. He was unaware a deaf mute was still in the building. Aroused by the smoke and odour, the deaf mute ran in panic to the front verandah. Farraway ran some 150 feet across an open field, risking being shot by the sniper, and brought the man to safety.
These pictures reflect the ceremony on December 12, 1978, at Queen’s Park, Toronto. The Lieutenant Governor Pauline McGibbon presented the medals to the two Officers, in the presence of Ontario Premier Bill Davis and Chief Gordan Torrance.
By Dave Bowen, Retired Inspector, Hamilton Police Service