Sgt. Schellenberg and PSD Jade Chief Constable's Commendation

2025 CHIEF CONSTABLE’S COMMENDATION

It was just after 8:30 on a summer evening in July 2022, when Sergeant Jesse Schellenberg heard the call over his radio. There was a break-in at 323 Alexander Street, and a suspect had just fled in a vehicle. Patrol officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but pulled back when the driver fled at high speed.

Sergeant Schellenberg spotted the vehicle moments later on E. 2nd Avenue between Victoria and Commercial. It was being driven in an erratic and unsafe manner, so he decided to try and box the van in.

The driver began to reverse, picking up speed, crashing into several parked cars and narrowly missing a cyclist. He was approaching a high pedestrian area, and Sergeant Schellenberg knew the risk of someone getting injured was high. When the driver slowed his speed, the sergeant hit the van with his police vehicle, stopping it.

The driver’s door opened and Sergeant Schellenberg released Police Service Dog Jade, who grabbed hold of the man’s shoe. When the sergeant approached the van, the suspect pulled out a gun and aimed directly at his head and chest, his finger on the trigger. When PSD Jade re-gripped the suspect’s calf, the gunman fired a shot towards her head, burning hair off of her ear. He then turned the gun back toward Sergeant Schellenberg, who drew his weapon and fired, injuring the suspect and causing him to drop the gun.

For their persistence in stopping a fleeing and armed suspect, who was putting the public at great risk, Sergeant Jesse Schellenberg and Police Service Dog Jade are awarded a Chief Constable’s Commendation.