The Vancouver police officer under investigation for punching a cyclist in the face was recognized five years ago by British Transit police for bravely apprehending a violent mentally-ill man on London’s tube.

London-born Ismail Bhabha joined the VPD in 2008, the same year he received an award of excellence from the British Transport Police Federation for coming to the rescue of woman and her daughter being harassed by a mentally ill man.

The incident happened in March 2007 at King’s Cross Station when Bhabha, off duty at the time, confronted the man and was bitten in the cheek during the ensuing struggle. The man was eventually restrained with the help of five other officers and Bhabha was taken to hospital, where he had surgery to repair a wound to his face.

At his assailant’s trial, the judge reportedly praised Bhabha for preventing “serious injuries to other people and members of the public.”

The Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner is now overseeing an investigation into the events that led up to Bhabha punching cyclist Andishae Akhavan in the face during an arrest captured on video in Yaletown Tuesday night.

In the video, which rapidly spread to thousands of users on Facebook, the officer is seen punching Akhavan - a concert promoter and DJ - once in the jaw from behind while he is being handcuffed.

Bhabha reported the incident to his supervisor, who reported it to the VPD’s Professional Standards Section who, in turn, notified the OPCC Wednesday.

OPCC spokesman Rollie Woods said the VPD advised the commissioner that the department was investigating the officer’s conduct, including searching for additional video evidence that shows what happened before Akhavan was arrested. Legislation allows up to six months for the investigation, though Woods said he hoped it would not take that long, given the high level of public interest in the case.

He noted that by mid-morning Thursday, the OPCC had received more than 10 complaints from the public about the video. Police union president Tom Stamatakis told CKNW Thursday that a punch can be considered an appropriate use of force. He said there is probably more to the story than the video shows because it is unlikely that someone would be arrested just for running through a red light or not wearing a helmet.

But Michael Vonn, policy director for the BC Civil Liberties Association, was “alarmed” by the use of violence.

“While police have the power to use reasonable force, if needed, in carrying out their duties, the video leads to questions as to whether this punch was an unnecessary and violent overreaction,” said Vonn.

As he is being handcuffed, Akhavan can be heard asking the officer, “What is this for?” He appears to move and then the officer punches him in the face. Then Akhavan’s friend Mike Schwarz, who filmed the punch with his cellphone, can be heard saying “What the hell was that?”

Bhabha then asks Schwarz to move aside and not interfere with his work.

Schwarz said the officer got more aggressive just before he began filming the incident.

Fincham said Akhavan was treated at the scene for a cut lip by firefighters and released on a promise to appear pending approval of a charge of obstructing a police officer.

A VPD supervisor arrived after the incident was captured on video and nixed his $109 headlight ticket and $29 helmet ticket, Akhavan said. He still has to pay the $167 ticket for running a red light, Akhavan said.

Social media sites on Thursday were buzzing with messages of both outrage and support for the officer.

Schwarz, founder of the popular nightlife website Clubzone, uploaded his video to Facebook Wednesday afternoon and within several hours more than 1,000 users had commented. The vast majority of commenters castigated what they saw as the officer’s heavy-handed tactics, some in profanity-laced rants.

mhager@postmedia.com

ticrawford@vancouversun.com