Commissioner Cressida Dick (left) with Sgt Markham (middle) and John Apter (right)
(Picture: Met Police)A Met police officer who chased down a suspect after he tried to stab her twice in the chest has won a bravery award.
As officers spoke to Julian Peters, 36, outside the address, he attempted to leave the scene.
When Sgt Markham tried to prevent him from doing so, Peters produced two knives and tried to stab at least twice in the stomach.
Fortunately Sgt Markham’s body armour saved her from sustaining any injuries.
Despite the attack, the officer calmly drew her Taser and discharged it before pursuing the suspect along with her colleague PC Nej Diker.
She even finished her shift and returned to duty the next day.
Sgt Markham, who responds to emergency calls in Lambeth and Southwark, was presented with the Police Federation’s London Region Bravery Award by Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick at an awards ceremony on Thursday, December 9.
Following the incident, the man was subsequently arrested, charged and convicted of the attempted murder of Sgt Markham, threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon.
Speaking of the incident, Sgt Markham – who has been a Met Police officer for seven years – said: “I’m just so glad my training kicked in. If it hadn’t, he probably would have got away and maybe gone on to hurt someone else.
“I remember my governor saying, ‘I can’t believe you chased him for seven minutes after he just tried to stab you’ and I said ‘Oh yeah, I didn’t think about it like that.’”
Four other Met Police officers were also finalists for the highly lauded award, including two response officers who saved families with children from a fire in Harrow.
