LaSalle police officer is hailed as hero

Giovanni and his family were enjoying a beautiful outing, not far from Ogunquit, when "we heard cries for help ! I was about 40 metres away and I started shouting out to the lifeguards, who hadn't heard anything. I jumped in and then I heard the cries of two more women, one of them a 12-year-old girl. I went to the aid of the young girl, I grabbed her and then swam towards the direction of the lifeguards and gave them the girl."

Just a little while after being saved, all three victims were walking and feeling fine. "The woman hugged me and thanked me for saving her life. It was the nicest gift I could have ever received. This was the first time that I saved someone directly. I just crashed in a chair. I was completely spent. Two American police officers came to congratulate me. The woman's boyfriend hugged me like I was a member of his family."

Giovanni lived in LaSalle for more than 30 years and has excelled in football and soccer. After attending LaSalle Catholic and Comprehensive High School, he pursued a career in football at Champlain College, and then went on to join the Concordia Stingers, where he completed a degree in Urban Studies. He did an internship at the urban services department for the City of LaSalle.

Giovanni no longer resides in LaSalle, but still has two sisters here. He tried out for the Canadian Football League and was drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Giovanni spends a lot of time discussing prevention with teenagers, merchants, seniors and others. "My main job is to help out young people and try to explain to them the consequences of bad decisions. It's a very gratifying job and I love it."