Anger is growing in Akwesasne near Cornwall over a bravery award given to a Mohawk police officer by Canada's Governor General.
Instead of celebrating the award, some residents are calling for Const. Mike Biron to resign.
There is a petition circulating to have him lose his job. Many residents say he shouldn't be made out to be a hero and calls the government's move to honour him a "slap in the face."
Const. Biron was given the award Friday for his attempt to rescue an elderly New York couple from their burning car which was hit by a speeding van in 2008. The driver of the van was being chased by police after being suspected of smuggling contraband cigarettes.
It has been confirmed Const. Biron was chasing the driver for eight minutes at speeds more than triple the limit when he plowed into the couple's car. Const. Biron was charged with criminal negligence causing death but was acquitted. The driver of the van also died.
CTV News has learned this is not the first time the constable has been involved in a high-speed chase which ended in death.
Michelle Sawatis lost her 22-year-old son Dakota in a crash this past October. He died while trying to flee police on the American side of the border. Const. Biron was one of the officers.
Sawatis says her son was going through a stop sign and wonders if he and his friend needed to be chased so aggressively. She blames Const. Biron for his death.
"I will hurt forever over this and he's put on a pedestal…not in my book," says Sawatis.
The Akwesasne Police Commission has called an emergency meeting Thursday at noon to discuss the medal of bravery awarded to Const. Biron.
Representatives say they don't know who nominated him, but say it wasn't anyone from Akwesasne Council.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Joanne Schnurr
