‘True Manitoba hero’ honoured

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A Brandon police officer was awarded the Order of the Buffalo Hunt for the bravery he displayed responding to a sword attack at a city high school last month.

Brandon Police Service Const. Moshe Linov and other first responders were honoured by Premier Wab Kinew at a press conference at Brandon City Hall on Thursday afternoon.

“Moshe Linov … is a true Manitoba hero,” Kinew said to a round of applause from the roughly 75 people in attendance. “We saw Constable Linov step forward, answer the call of duty, help to ensure that (the victim’s) life would be saved and save the lives of others.”

Linov, who is a BPS school resource officer, said he was just doing his job.

“It’s what I was trained for, and it’s what I was prepared for through all of my police career,” he said. “It was one of the events that I didn’t think about myself. I have a call, I have an armed attacker in school, and my job is to go and deal with it. It’s what I did.”

On June 10, a person entered École secondaire Neelin High School wearing a disguise and armed with a sword.

Chinonso Onuke, 15, a Grade 10 student, was cut severely on the hands, chest and thigh. He attended Thursday’s ceremony with his family.

Linov got a call about the attack and responded within roughly three minutes. The suspect was taken down by a stun gun.

“I saw the armed attacker,” Linov said Thursday. “I made the decision, operated according to my training and my abilities, and I did what I did. I didn’t think about feelings or anything else.”

Linov said he wasn’t expecting any awards for his work that day.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “I didn’t think about awards or anything, so when I wasn’t notified, I was really happy about it.”

Kinew said Linov’s actions are an example of what police officers do.

“When we think about what first responders do, when we think about what law enforcement does, this is the perfect example of serving and protecting our community,” Kinew said.

“This was a terrible thing that took place … and yet in that awful moment, we saw the best of humanity.”

The award was well earned, he added.

“We thank you for your service to our province, to our country, to the community and to the students.”

This response, he said, also exemplifies the best part of Manitoba.

“It’s often during the times of crisis that it really reveals who you are, and that’s why we took the decision to honour Constable Linov and the first responders with the Order of the Buffalo Hunt. Because when that crisis came, they showed our true colours, and they were beautiful, they were strong, they were heroic.”

He added that the same applies to the community’s response after the attack.

“Hopefully the way that Brandon has responded, Westman region has responded, the Manitoba province has responded sends that message that this is your province,” the premier told the victim’s family. “This is your community, and you are absolutely valued and loved and supported right here at home.”

The morning after the attack, parents and supporters drew supportive messages with chalk outside the entrance of the school.

Kinew also described Onuke, the victim of the attack, as a hero.

“It’s a well-deserved award,” Onuke said after the ceremony. “I feel like he deserves it for all the effort he put in.”

Onuke, who was wearing protective bandages on both arms, said he is recovering.

“My recovery is going fine. I’m supposed to get some stuff removed by tomorrow, and then I have to do my physio and fix my hands.”

He said school resource officers do an important job, and they can help students in need.

His dad, Onyebushi Onuke, said this recognition goes a long way.

“We are really happy that the constable is recognized,” he said.

Police Chief Tyler Bates said the police force has become inspired by Onuke’s response to the attack and his recovery.

“I just want to reinforce just how inspired we are in terms of your resilience, in terms of you facing danger and looking at it in the face and not being deterred to take steps and actions that that were really meaningful and prevented significant harm that day.”

He also commended the bravery displayed by the officers first on scene.

“You all faced danger head on. You didn’t think, you didn’t hesitate, you acted quickly, calmly and with deep care.”

Bates added that this quick response shows the vital role of high school resource officers.

“Moshe’s brave response that day is a testament to the trust that he’s built to students and staff and the investment that he’s made directly into their lives,” he said. “Every hallway conversation that Moshe had, every volleyball game that he coached, every safety planning meeting that he’s had with staff prepared Neelin for this date.”

Police allege the attacker targeted people of colour and immigrants.

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder, uttering threats, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and wearing a disguise with intent.

» alambert@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press