The team of police officers who protected the public and each other as they faced a gunman on a Shropshire estate have been commended at a special awards ceremony.

Matthew Peter Crisp, Sharon Phillips and Keiron Cornell received their awards last night following the incident in Castlefields, Shrewsbury, on May 6, 2007, when Constable Richard Gray was gunned down.

See our photo gallery below

Mrs Jenny Lee-Gray accepted an award on behalf of her husband, who was killed by gunman Pete Medlicott.

Constables Gray and Crisp received the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery from Algernon Heber-Percy, the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire.

Superintendent Pete Lightwood said: “Both Ricky and Mat have also been awarded Chief Constable’s Higher Commendations for bravery.

“Their citations for these awards reads as follows, Pc Richard Gray is commended for bravery and for his immediate and decisive action to protect the lives of his colleagues and the public in Castlefields, Shrewsbury, on May 6, 2007.

“Pc Gray paid the ultimate sacrifice for his brave actions and have his life whilst saving others.

“Pc Mathew Crisp is commended for bravery and for his immediate and decisive action to protect the lives of his colleagues and the public in Castlefields, Shrewsbury, on May 6, 2007.”

He added that while knowing that Pc Gray had been fatally injured “Pc Crisp displayed the highest levels of courage and selfless actions in putting his own life in danger in order to save others.”

Constables Phillips and Cornell were awarded Chief Constable’s Commendations for their actions.

Mr Lightwood said: “Sharon and Keiron were the unarmed officers who first arrived at the scene in Castlefields following the call for assistance from a woman who said that her partner was causing problems outside her home.

“Without warning, they were confronted by a man with a high powered rifle.”

He added that “Pc Cornell was quick to see an opportunity to press the emergency button on his radio, allowing the control room to hear what was going on”.

Honoured for efforts:

More than 30 police officers and a volunteer parish warden were honoured for their efforts in protecting the public and assisting people in the community. They were presented with the awards by county High Sheriff Anne Gee.

Police constable Darren Holmes, was given a divisional commendation after saving a woman from the River Severn on January 8 last year.

Sergeant Lee Johnson and Constables James Nicholson, Ray Foster and Steve Perry were awarded divisional commendations for their actions in dealing with a man carrying out a vicious attack on a woman in her Ellesmere home in December 2007.

Constable Kevin Balcombe was awarded a divisional commendation for his actions in preventing a woman throwing herself from a jetty into the Mere in Ellesmere on April 7, 2008. Constable Lee Saunders was awarded a divisional commendation for his professionalism during the investigation following the arrest of two shoplifters in December 2007.

Constables Steven Bloomer, Philip Nock, Benjamin Ward and Heidi Bate were awarded divisional commendations for their tenacity, teamwork and effective communication after overcoming a violent burglar breaking into an office in Bridgnorth on November 1 last year. Constable Mark Booth was awarded a divisional commendation for his “quick thinking, courage and determination” after a suicidal man threatened to jump into the weir in Castlefields, Shrewsbury on November 11, 2007.

Five officers were also commended for their work investigating violent disorder at Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institute near Market Drayton on October 1, 2006.

Five others were commended for saving a suicidal man threatening to jump into the River Severn at Greyfriars Bridge in Shrewsbury on February 8 last year.

Sergeant Neal Robinson, based at Whitchurch, and Constable Simon Feam, of Market Drayton, have been commended for their work in bringing a man to court for causing death by dangerous driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit.

Former Detective Constable Steven Thompson, now retired, and Detective Constable Grant Butler, were part of the team who investigated the murder of Annie Eels, 55, and Samantha Tapper, 23, whose bodies were discovered at a massage parlour in Frankwell, Shrewsbury, on July 2, 2006.

Police parish warden John Keeping, of Edgmond, near Newport, received a top award from the High Sheriff for his assistance over 15 years.

By Rhea Parsons