Letters of Commendation Received since last Regular Police Services Board Meeting

Date Received	Agencies/Members of the Public	OPS Members	Excerpts from Letters
Oct. 17	Chief Superintendent C. Lewis Ontario Provincial Police	Chief Vince Bevan OPS Members S/Sgt. Mel Robertson Sgt. Al Martel	I’d like to formally thank you for the wonderful assistance, support and friendship offered by you, and other members of the Ottawa Police Service, during and following the tragic death of Constable John Flagg…
Oct. 20	Mr. C. Troughton, Partner Millennium Limousine Service	Sgt. Robert Barrette Cst. William Cartwright Cst. Al Ferris Cst. Brad Tierney Cst. Ian Hayes	(These officers) participated in providing a police escort for a group of kids and their parents for the Max Keeping Charities of Golf Tournaments. Mr. Keeping graciously donates limousines for a group of kids (this year it was kids stricken with MS) and takes them to lunch with players of the Ottawa Senators. We have been doing this event for the past several years, and although meeting the players is exciting, it is the police escort that leaves them in awe and feeling like they are on top of the world…
Oct. 21	Ms. P. Logan, Ms. C. LaRose The Kidney Foundation of Canada	Mr. David Pepper	Thank you for taking the time out of your hectic schedule to participate in the “Be a LifeSaver” launch. Your help and support was greatly appreciated…
Oct. 21	Member of the Public	Cst. Mark Barclay & Tactical Team	I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the opportunity of spending a day with the Tactical Team. This opportunity was made possible to me as it was a gift from the United Way Charity Auction last fall. Cst. Barclay and the team were amazing as they showed us, and allowed us to participate in, more activities than we anticipated. They were more than pleased to demonstrate and explain everything that we were curious about. It is a day that will not soon be forgotten.
Oct. 22	Member of the Public	Cst. Mark Villeneuve	I would like to take this opportunity to thank and commend Constable Villeneuve for his friendliness and his re-assuring manner in which he spoke to my 13 year old son…I found Constable Villeneuve to be pleasant, attentive, and down to earth while at the same time trying to gather as much information as possible. He provided a safe, secure and comfortable feeling for both of us.
Oct. 22	Member of the Public	Cst. Stephen Carroll	…I called the department about traffic problems in my neighbourhood. Though I just left a message with somebody, Constable Carroll took the time to call me back and left two messages on my voice mail expressing a desire to speak. When he called a third time, we had a constructive conversation and I came away with the impression that there was a police officer who cared a great deal about his community. Thought you would want to know that you have an appreciative public.
Oct. 22	Ms. F. Detchon Executive Director The Ottawa Rotary Home	Ms. Donna Watson-Elliott	…The reason I am writing to you is to let you know that your staff was, to a person, kind, professional and very helpful in an extremely stressful situation. In particular, I would like to commend Donna Watson-Elliot for assistance above and beyond the call of duty…My staff was under a tremendous strain and Donna made it bearable. She was pleasant, professional, thoughtful, and incredibly supportive. The service that you provide through your Victim Crisis Unit is invaluable to this community.
Oct. 23	Ms. T. Murray Director General Canadian Police College	Supt. Pat Hayes Insp. Karl Erfle	I am writing to say a special thank you for supporting the Canadian Police College’s workshops by encouraging your staff to attend and by providing presenters for us….To say Pat and Karl contributed significantly to the success of our workshop would be an understatement. Participants responded very enthusiastically and positively to their style and are pleased with the tools and strategies they took away from this presentation. Pat and Karl are a credit to your organization.
Oct. 24	Member of the Public	Cst. Nigel Emaman	…I am writing to highly commend Constable Emaman for his professionalism and compassion in dealing with this traumatic situation. I was very distraught over the plight of the injured deer and Constable Emaman spoke to me with compassion…I feel it is important that I take this opportunity to bring to your attention the positive outcome that Constable Emaman brought to a negative experience…
Oct. 24	Ms. A. DeCastro ESL Teacher	S/Sgt. Scott Nystedt	I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for your excellent presentation (at our ESL [English as a Second Language] class). I have great admiration for your work. Your kind and gentle manner was appreciated by all of us.
Oct. 27	Member of the Public	Cst. Stephen Carroll	Recently I reported an ongoing traffic problem in my neighbourhood….I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Constable Carroll for his efforts in not only trying to see justice done, but for expressing a sincere interest in my safety as a citizen and pedestrian. It is police officers such as Constable Carroll that make me appreciate your efforts and hard work in trying to make the streets safer for all of us.
Oct. 28	Member of the Public	Cst. Sean Lowell	…Officer Lowell arrived on scene…throughout, he was efficient, yet very emphatic…I’ve been fortunate that I haven’t had to interact with Police professionals for any other serious matter; this is the first time. I’ve always thought that you and your colleagues do a great job in serving our city. But when it finally got ‘personal’ for my family, Officer Lowell proved to be an outstanding example of everything that’s great in your organization.
Oct. 29	Members of the Public	Cst. Rebecca Vanderwater	Two women came into the Information Desk at 10^th Line to express their appreciation of Cst. Rebecca Vanderwater for helping their parents during the recent black out period throughout Northern U.S.. and Eastern Canada…The family had made several attempts to contact their mother and father during the blackout, with no success. They called the Ottawa Police Service and Cst. Vanderwater was dispatched. While there, Cst. Vanderwater recognized that this was an older couple with health problems and that their personal phone was out of order. She gave the couple her personal cell phone so that they could call their family and let them know they were okay, leaving it with them for the day in the event they needed to use it for medical reasons….Cst. Vanderwater’s actions are extraordinary.
Oct. 31	Ms. M.Buchanan, Principal Cedarveiw Middle School	Cst. Alain Boucher Cst. Cathy Wood Ms. Donna Watson-Elliot	On Tuesday, one of our grade seven students and her father were killed in a tragic car accident in Barrhaven. On behalf of the staff, students and parents of Cedarview Middle School, I wish to express my appreciation for the invaluable support we received from the Ottawa Police. The sensitivity Constable Boucher demonstrated during this crisis played a large part in our ability to cope with the situation…Cathy Wood, our SRO, has been readily available. The assistance of Donna Watson-Elliot from the Victim Crisis Unit has been of invaluable support to the family. I am sure there were other officers involved whose names we do not know. Please share with them our appreciation for the wonderful job they do every day…The support of the police during this difficult time is deeply appreciated by the family and friends as well as the Korean Community.
Nov. 03	Member of the Public	Cst. Ian Hayes	On October 30, Officer Hayes and his partner issued me a ticket. I would like to comment Officer Hayes for politeness, courtesy and patience. He explained the infraction in a pleasant way, with a smile. Both officers are a credit to the Ottawa Police Force.
Nov. 03	Ms. J.Fuller, Supervisor Vehicle Emissions Enforcement Unit Ministry of the Environment	Supt. Gilles Larochelle Sgt. Tom Murray Cst. Luc Beauvais Cst. Les Jutasi	On behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Environment, I would like to thank you for hosting a successful three-day environmental/finance and traffic enforcement blitz organized by officers from your East Division District Traffic Unit. Officers from three Provincial Ministries, the RCMP and your agency work in a cooperative manner at several locations in Eastern Ontario…I would like to thank you and your officers for their professionalism.
Nov. 03	Member of CSIS	Insp. Karl Erfle & Team	I just wanted to say thank you to all the police officers who were on the CSIS grounds on … It was nice, as a service employee, to see how well protected we were…It was very well appreciated.
Nov. 03	Ms. E. Birchall Health & Social Crisis Program, City of Ottawa	Supt. Pat Hayes	On June 9^th, the City of Ottawa Public Health Department, Health and Social Crisis Program, Emergency and Protective Services, Mental Health Crisis Services, Human Resources Development Canada sponsored a workshop for 220 community professionals. At moments Supt. Hayes had his hands full but he rose to the challenge and guided the process smoothly and with disarming humour.
Nov. 04	Ms. J. McNally Assistant Crown Attorney	Sgt. Lyse Fournier	Recently I completed a long, drawn out, hotly contested trial for which Lyse Fournier was the investigating officer. She did such an outstanding job, that I felt compelled to write…I know nothing about the awards system in the police force, but I certainly recommend Det. Fournier as an outstanding example of what a police officer should be. I feel lucky to have worked with her.
Nov. 06	Member of the Public	Cst. Len Vaz Cst. Tapinder Thind	In late 1999 and early 2000 the police responded to two calls at my home. Both of these calls were related to my first ever episode as a manic-depressive and both of them were handled very professionally…The constable who sat on the couch opposite me and calmly talked me down to earth again saved my life. Thanks. As you can expect I don’t remember much of what happened but I do remember the calm sense of reassurance that got me into the cruiser. Please pass along my sincerest thanks to them…
Nov 06	Assistant Commissioner Rod Smith Royal Canadian Mounted Police	D/C Sue O’Sullivan Mr. David Pepper Mr. Randy Mar Supt. Peter Crosby Ms. Natalya Kuziak Cst. Maria Amber Cst. Ray Lamarre Cst. Tom Mosco S/Sgt. Rock Lavigne Ms. Laurie Fenton	I am writing to express my gratitude for the warm reception the Ottawa Police Service recently gave a delegation of Norwegian Police officers hosted by Staff Sergeant Pierre Lemieux of Information and Identification Services…I received very positive comments from our guests on their visit to Ottawa Police Service. The excellent presentations and the professionalism exhibited by every member of your staff are a reflection of the quality of service of your Department.
Nov. 10	Mr. S. Lawrence CGI Director Consulting Services & United Way High Tech Division Cabinet Chair of Ottawa	Chief Vince Bevan Cst. Sean Kay	First, I would like to thank you for your quick action to respond to a staff member by performing CPR and assisting until paramedics arrived on site at the United Way. Although she was unable to recover from the event it was very clear that she received the very best personal care possible and was given the best chance for survival…Secondly,….I would like to pass on my personal commendation and thanks to Officer Sean Kay…He made a difficult situation much more bearable by providing guidance on protocol and, more personal, offered comfort to the family, all without being intrusive….I have always been impressed by the members of the OPS and recently have more reason than ever to be proud and thankful for the difficult work you do.