A POLICE officer has won a bravery award for chasing down and arresting a 6ft-plus knife murderer.
PC Helen Burdett, who is only 5ft 2in, was among officers who rushed to a flat in Hyson Green after reports of a break-in.
Inside she found a group of people who said they had been attacked by knifeman Gary Cooper, who had fled the scene.
Cooper's one-time friend Mark Calpin lay dying from knife wounds.
PC Burdett, 43, was helping another injured man outside the house when Cooper emerged from the shadows.
He fled when the officer challenged him, but she gave chase.
PC Burdett, a grandmother-of-one, said: "I thought if he got away he could stab someone else. The risks didn't enter my mind."
She caught the killer and tackled him to the ground. She has now been given a commendation by Notts Chief Constable Chris Eyre
Cop chased 6ft man after horrific killingNotts Police officers and members of the public have been honoured for their bravery at an awards ceremony. Crime Correspondent Chris Breese spoke to one officer who risked her life to catch a killer. LATE on a gloomy Bonfire Night in 2011, police were called to what was reported as a break-in at a flat in Ashwell Gardens, Hyson Green. Once inside PC Helen Burdett and her colleagues found they had walked into a waking nightmare. After an earlier argument Gary Cooper had broken in through the kitchen window and attacked Mark Calpin with a kitchen knife. Mr Calpin, who had been a friend of Cooper's for 20 years, lay dying with five stab wounds and another man was also hurt and in distress. Cooper, who stood over six feet tall, had fled. PC Burdett helped paramedics tend to Mr Calpin, then took the other man outside to try to calm him down and work out how bad his injuries were. Then a figure emerged from the darkness of the street. PC Burdett said: "I'd taken the other man outside because I didn't want him to see how badly hurt his friend was. "While we were outside, Cooper turned up. He just came out of the shadows. "I recognised him because we'd had dealings with him before over the years. He stood there and I went 'Gary, I need to talk to you', and then he ran." Not knowing whether or not Cooper was still carrying the six-inch knife he had stabbed Mr Calpin with, the 5ft 2in PC gave chase. She added: "My sergeant was still in the house, I just shouted 'he's here'. Cooper stopped when he saw all the emergency vehicles parked further away and we just grabbed him." She and her sergeant, who had heard her shout and joined in the chase, handcuffed Cooper. A paramedic who had seen the commotion sat on his legs. Mr Calpin, 44, was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre but was pronounced dead. In October, Cooper, then 45, who had been staying in Ashwell Gardens with Mr Calpin, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life with a minimum of 23 years before being considered for parole. PC Burdett, a mother-of-one who recently became a grandmother, was among nearly 80 officers and members of the public presented with Chief Constable's commendations at the Albert Hall, Nottingham. in North Circus Street on Thursday. Her colleague, Sergeant Mark Golds-Jones said: "The way she helped paramedics with the dying man was astounding and her professionalism was humbling. When the suspect was confronted she chased him, showing bravery of the highest order." Chief Constable Chris Eyre said: "We are fortunate to have a force made up of so many dedicated and talented individuals, people who know that one day they could be asked to put themselves in harm's way. They accept that and, when the time comes, they just do it. "All of our award recipients have my thanks, but more importantly the thanks, praise and admiration of all law abiding people across Nottinghamshire."
Cop chased 6ft man after horrific killingNotts Police officers and members of the public have been honoured for their bravery at an awards ceremony. Crime Correspondent Chris Breese spoke to one officer who risked her life to catch a killer. LATE on a gloomy Bonfire Night in 2011, police were called to what was reported as a break-in at a flat in Ashwell Gardens, Hyson Green. Once inside PC Helen Burdett and her colleagues found they had walked into a waking nightmare. After an earlier argument Gary Cooper had broken in through the kitchen window and attacked Mark Calpin with a kitchen knife. Mr Calpin, who had been a friend of Cooper's for 20 years, lay dying with five stab wounds and another man was also hurt and in distress. Cooper, who stood over six feet tall, had fled. PC Burdett helped paramedics tend to Mr Calpin, then took the other man outside to try to calm him down and work out how bad his injuries were. Then a figure emerged from the darkness of the street. PC Burdett said: "I'd taken the other man outside because I didn't want him to see how badly hurt his friend was. "While we were outside, Cooper turned up. He just came out of the shadows. "I recognised him because we'd had dealings with him before over the years. He stood there and I went 'Gary, I need to talk to you', and then he ran." Not knowing whether or not Cooper was still carrying the six-inch knife he had stabbed Mr Calpin with, the 5ft 2in PC gave chase. She added: "My sergeant was still in the house, I just shouted 'he's here'. Cooper stopped when he saw all the emergency vehicles parked further away and we just grabbed him." She and her sergeant, who had heard her shout and joined in the chase, handcuffed Cooper. A paramedic who had seen the commotion sat on his legs. Mr Calpin, 44, was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre but was pronounced dead. In October, Cooper, then 45, who had been staying in Ashwell Gardens with Mr Calpin, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life with a minimum of 23 years before being considered for parole. PC Burdett, a mother-of-one who recently became a grandmother, was among nearly 80 officers and members of the public presented with Chief Constable's commendations at the Albert Hall, Nottingham. in North Circus Street on Thursday. Her colleague, Sergeant Mark Golds-Jones said: "The way she helped paramedics with the dying man was astounding and her professionalism was humbling. When the suspect was confronted she chased him, showing bravery of the highest order." Chief Constable Chris Eyre said: "We are fortunate to have a force made up of so many dedicated and talented individuals, people who know that one day they could be asked to put themselves in harm's way. They accept that and, when the time comes, they just do it. "All of our award recipients have my thanks, but more importantly the thanks, praise and admiration of all law abiding people across Nottinghamshire."
