The fifth annual Outstanding Police Officer Service Award ceremony was held at Fleming College’s Sutherland Campus today.
In addition to the award winners and their invited guests, the event was attended by many senior police leaders as well as faculty, staff and students from the Police Foundations program.
Eight local police services are invited annually to nominate a police officer from their service. The nominees must have demonstrated one or several qualities consistent with superior policing and service to their community. These qualities included, but were not limited to, professionalism and integrity, commitment to community, leadership, valour, sacrifice and determination in the face of adversity.
This year, seven police officers from City of Kawartha Lakes O.P.P., Cobourg Police Service, Peterborough County O.P.P., Peterborough Police Service, Port Hope Police Service and Kawartha Lakes Police Service were chosen to receive the Outstanding Police Officer Service Award. Recipients were:
• A/Sgt. Janice MacDonald and Constable Danielle McKeen, Cobourg Police Service
• Constable Ryan Boutin, Kawartha Lake Police Service
• Constable Stephen Gray, Peterborough County O.P.P.
• Constable Wes Denley, Port Hope Police Service
• Sergeant Deb Gillis, Peterborough Police Service
• A/Sgt. Andrew Munro, City of Kawartha Lakes O.P.P.
Fourth-semester students from the Police Foundations program described each officer’s contributions and handed each a plaque acknowledging their outstanding service.
About the Outstanding Police Officer Service Award
In June, 2014, three Moncton RCMP officers were tragically killed in the line of duty. Following this incident, students and faculty of the Police Foundations program met to share their thoughts and feelings. Students not only expressed their sadness over the loss of life, but dismay related to negative comments being made about police and the policing profession through various social media. To counter the negativity and recognize the contributions and sacrifices of our local police officers, the annual Fleming College, Police Foundations, Outstanding Police Officer Service Award was created.
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
