Police Officers Commended For Stopping Violent Man While Dressed As Monkey And Zebra

Police constables Tracy Griffin and Terri Cave may be the first officers in the UK to stop a suspect while dressed as exotic animals.

This is Tracy Griffin (left) and Terri Cave, two police officers from West Midlands Police, pictured here getting ready for a party. Shortly after this was taken they apprehended a violent suspect.

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The officers were buying drinks and nibbles in a supermarket in Coventry last March when they spotted a man threatening a woman. The pair got a shop worker to call 999 but the man became more aggressive, threatening to kill the woman before chasing her on to a bus.

At this point, still dressed in monkey and zebra outfits, the pair stepped in and challenged the man, before wrestling him to the ground on a busy road. Uniformed officers arrived within six minutes to make the arrest.

On Tuesday the PCs were given a special commendation from chief constable Chris Sims – the highest accolade the force can give for acts of bravery.

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Chief Superintendent Alex Murray, from Solihull Police, said in a statement: “There was a lot of interest in this particular case for obvious reasons but, joking apart, PCs Griffin and Cave were faced with a very dangerous man in difficult circumstances and they stepped up to the plate.

“Let’s not lose focus on the risk they exposed themselves to, without any protection – in tackling this man. Whether they were in fancy dress or not – the fact is they chose to put a member of the public’s safety above their own and then cancelled their night out to make sure a professional job was done.”