DRPS officers brought relief to a community gripped in fear by a violent crime spree. They also conducted the longest Air1 track in its history to catch a dangerous offender. Another team of officers was responsible for breaking a massive firearm trafficking ring. This is just some of the amazing police work highlighted at the 16th annual Police Appreciation and Awards Night (PADAN) that was held last night.
This year’s theme was “Going the Distance” and it highlighted the ways in which DRPS members serve with pride, empathy and integrity every shift. The packed house at Deer Creek Golf & Convention Centre in Ajax was moved tears and filled with pride in the women and men of Durham Regional Police.
The Co-chairs of the community organizing committee, Moe Pringle and Blair McArthur, thanked every member of the police service for making a difference in the community. They also thanked all of the corporate sponsors who have made the event possible. More than $1.45 million has been raised over the past 16 years and the proceeds are reinvested into in educational, community safety and outreach programs involving police officers.
The awards presented to members had an emotional impact on the assembled guests:
-Project Bradley: Through information received and the development of community partners, the Gun and Gang Unit (G&G) commenced an investigation in the fall of 2017 regarding a person involved in firearms trafficking in Durham Region. Investigative steps were taken and it was determined this individual purchased more than 20 firearms and they had been trafficked. Members of the G&G worked around the clock on the investigation in an effort to recover these firearms prior to them being used in any further offences. During Project Bradley, 17 search warrants were executed and 23 people were arrested leading to 184 charges. Investigators seized approximately $155,000 in drugs and $56,000 in cash. Eleven firearms were also seized along with several rounds of ammunition. The Project Bradley team did an excellent job taking dangerous weapons off the street and the dangerous offenders who were responsible for trafficking them.
-A Bank Holdup: An armed bank robbery in Courtice led to a chase and dangerous situation for responding officers. In the spring of 2018, two suspects armed with handguns entered the Scotiabank branch on Highway 2 in Courtice in the middle of the afternoon. The suspects made a demand for cash and then fled the scene. Responding officers located the suspect vehicle with three occupants and pursued it to the Highway 401 on-ramp at Stevenson Road in Oshawa. Police were able to stop the suspect vehicle and box it in. However, the suspect vehicle attempted to flee from police by striking the police cruisers. At one point, a DRPS officer discharged his firearm as the vehicle drove towards him. The suspect vehicle managed to break free and continued westbound on Highway 401 before losing control and ending up in a ditch just east of the Salem Road off-ramp in Ajax. The three suspects then fled on foot into a wooded area. A handgun was located in the suspect vehicle and a replica firearm was located near the on-ramp. A short time later, police officers located two suspects hiding in a residential neighbourhood in Ajax.
-Longest Air1 Track: A frantic woman calls 9-1-1 in the winter of 2018. A man known to her is following her in his vehicle. At one point, he tried to ram her vehicle so she would stop. DRPS dispatch advised her to drive to Central West Division and officers are dispatched. What ensued was the longest police helicopter track in Ontario history and the second longest in Canada. Air1 was in the air and spotted the vehicle, which at times reached speeds of 237 km/h on the eastbound Highway 401 near Oshawa. It was at that point, police dispatchers advised cruisers to break off their pursuit and let the Air1 helicopter continue the pursuit using night vision. After a 154-km chase, taking several hours, which traveled towards Peterborough then back towards Durham, the vehicle drove over a spike belt laid out on Ganaraska Road. The driver then fled on foot into a nearby forest and was seen discarding evidence along the way. We were able to apprehend the man in a wooded area.
-Project Westmore: In September 2017, Ajax experienced a string of violent robberies and car-jackings that gripped the community in fear. The pair of suspects would surprise unsuspecting victims in their own driveways as they entered or exited their vehicles. During three of these instances, victims were held at gunpoint and forced to drive to nearby banks to withdraw money. Several victims resisted and faced brutal assaults with two being sent to hospital for their injuries.
In response, the Major Crime Robbery Unit and West Division Criminal Investigation Branch formed Project Westmore. The team was made up of a group of very determined investigators who worked tirelessly over a two-week period to identify the suspects and collect evidence.
On November 28, 2017, this crime spree came to an abrupt end after the team observed the pair rob a taxi driver. A high-risk arrest was executed and both accused were taken into custody and charged with more than 60 offences.
A special (and surprise) presentation of the Mike Ewles Community Builder Award was made to Cst. Joylene MacNeil. Her tireless work to make a positive impact on the lives of people in our community was recognized. After being touched by the stories of young girls who missed their proms or graduations because they didn’t have the money to buy a dress, she founded the annual Gowns for Girls event. In its fourth year, the initiative provides prom dresses, accessories and services to hundreds of girls—allowing them to have a spectacular night they will always remember.
Another highlight of the night was a speech from Chief for a Day winner Olivia Baker, a Grade 5 student at C.E. Broughton Public School in Whitby. She delivered her award-winning essay that focused on her desire to make a difference in her community when she gets older: “I know that it is important to be an excellent leader, and I would be brave in making hard decisions. I would be a good leader because the Police Chief has to motivate and encourage their officers, like what my parents do to me to make me do a better job and be confident. It’s important so all the police officers know that someone has their back.”
The DRPS would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the Police Appreciation Dinner and Awards Night committee for recognizing our members and for the contributions they have made over the past 16 years to the community outreach efforts by members of the DRPS.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
