Off-duty police officer wrestled knife-carrying man to the ground
Delaney threatened to stab Sgt Thobhani (photo via Nottinghamshire Police).
An off-duty police officer who risked his life to tackle a man who threatened him with a knife on Arnold high street has won an award for his bravery.
Sergeant Rishi Thobhani was on his day off when he spotted thief Michael Delaney running from shop staff after stealing from Poundland.
Sgt Thobhani identified himself but the thief ran off.
Delaney, who is known to police for using threats of violence, was carrying a knife and threatened to stab Sgt Thobhani when he continued to chase him down the high street.
The large blade came within centimetres of the officer’s face before he was able to detain Delaney by tackling him to the ground.
Other officers soon arrived and the thief was arrested. He was later jailed for 18 months.
Sgt Thobhani was awarded the PC Ged Walker Award for his actions at the Nottinghamshire Police Force Awards ceremony on Monday, June 30.
The award is named after PC Ged Walker, who was killed on duty in 2003 after being thrown from a moving vehicle while trying to stop a taxi theft in Bulwell.
Sgt Thobhani said he was ‘proud’ to win the award.
He said: “As the incident unfolded, all I could think about was the need to take the knife off him.
“Whether you’re on-duty or off-duty, whether you’re wearing the police uniform or not, it is your duty as a police officer to protect the public.
“I joined the police to do just that, so if this incident was to happen again, I’d do the same thing all over again.
“It’s something I’ve signed up for and helping people is something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Sgt Thobhani was nominated by Sergeant Wayne Tear, who said his “unwavering commitment to public safety, bravery and professionalism during the high-risk encounter” deserved to be recognised.
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