BACKGROUND

Attached for the information of the Board are excerpts from letters of appreciation / thanks received from the public since the last regular meeting, for services rendered by members of the Ottawa Police Service.

(original signed by)

Vern White,

Chief of Police

Attach. (1)

LETTERS OF COMMENDATION

Date Received: 14 July 2010

From: Patricia Kulka, Principal, Glebe Collegiate Institute

OPS Member: Constable Judith Dover-Janes

Excerpts from Letter: It is with great pleasure that I write this letter to express my gratitude and great appreciation for the work of Constable Drover-Janes, our School Resource Officer. Constable Drover-Janes came to Glebe Collegiate as a replacement as our SRO Officer was assigned to the Olympic Games. Upon his return, he was reassigned and Constable Drover-Janes was asked to stay until the end of the school year. She demonstrated a consistent desire to assist our school staff and more importantly our students in ensuring that Glebe is a safe environment for all. Constable Drover-Janes’ manner with the students is firm when needed, friendly when needed and consistently effective. In the short time Constable Drover-Janes has been assigned to Glebe Collegiate Institute, she has made a strong and favourable impression with my administrative team. We all agree that we have been blessed with a wonderful SRO and we would love to see her continue in her role at Glebe Collegiate for the next school year.

Date Received: 20 July 2010

From: Member of the Public

OPS Members: Constable Jamie Foley, Constable Blake Pope, Constable Michelle Baird, Constable Michael Bellefeuille and Constable Nicole Cole

Excerpts from Letter: I would like to commend the thoughtful and prompt actions of Constable Foley and Constable Pope for coming to the rescue of a damsel in distress. When attempting to ascend a steep ramp at the exit of a parking garage in the market area, the accelerator linkage of our standard car got jammed and would not allow me to exit. The handbrake and footbrake were not holding the car in place and I was slowly slipping back toward the parking barrier and cement wall at the side. A kind woman came to my aid and asked the officers who were working the Bluesfest to assist me.

Date Received: 21 July 2010

From: W.K. Rudderham, Lieutenant Colonel, Base Commander

OPS Members: Staff Sergeant Brad Hampson, Staff Sergeant Roy Lalonde, Sergeant Paul Tremblay and Constable Nelson Lizotte

Excerpts from Letter: As you may be aware, members of the Ottawa Police Services conducted public order annual block training in CFB Petawawa in June 2010 under the leadership of S/Sgt Brad Hampson, S/Sgt Roy Lalonde, Sgt Tremblay and Constable Lizotte. During the wrap up festivities, on behalf of the Ottawa Police Service, S/Sgt Hampson made a donation of $500.00 to the base to be used to support a base activity. These funds were generated through private donations on the part of the training participants as has typically been done each year that your personnel have been training at CFB Petawawa. Those funds generated a $75K pledge which the base has made to support a Birthing Suite within the Pembroke Regional Hospital. The birthing suite is used primarily by military families and goes a long way to easing the stresses associated with a delivery. On behalf of CFB Petawawa, I thank you and your organization for the generous donation which will support our military community in the future.

Date Received: 26 July 2010

From: Member of the Public

OPS Members: Constable Josee-Annee Harris and Constable Andrew Pendlebury

Excerpts from Letter: I am a little tardy in sending this note, but would like to commend your staff when I recently had to call 911 to report my husband missing. On June 28^th, my husband acquired a brain injury in January 2005 leaving him with no short term memory, but otherwise his injury is invisible; went missing from his day program. Constable Harris was very kind and considerate, and very encouraging in her conversations with me. There was no one who could come and stay with me in my distressed state, and this is when she suggested that an officer could come to our house and talk with me until someone arrived. Constable Pendlebury arrived and was a very calming person who asked me questions about my husband. As the hours wore on, I was getting very anxious that my husband would not be found before dark. The story had a happy ending as he was found and wondered what all the ruckus was about. I wanted to express my gratitude for a job well done.

Date Received: 26 July 2010

From: Glenn Murray, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services

OPS Member: Constable Greg Borger

Excerpts from Letter: The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services released a revised Use of Force Guideline that addresses conducted energy weapons and CEW training standard for police. The guideline and training standards were developed with the cooperation and input of a working group of police personnel with the expertise in the area of use of force and CEW training. Constable Borger was a member of this working group. I would like to express our sincere appreciation for Constable Borger’s assistance and for the support of Ottawa Police in this initiative. I understand Constable Borger devoted a significant amount of time to the development of the guide and the training program that will greatly assist Ontario police officers in their use of CEW’s. Constable Borger’s experience, professionalism and commitment have been invaluable during the course of this work. Please extend my thanks and congratulations to Constable Borger for a job well done.

Date Received: 26 July 2010

From: Bernard Bouchard, Executive Director, The Council on Aging of Ottawa

OPS Member: Acting Sergeant Brenda McGillvray

Excerpts from Letter: On behalf of the Champlain Elder Abuse Coalition (CEARC) and The Council on Aging of Ottawa, I would like to commend and congratulate A/Sgt McGillvray on her excellent investigative work related to the elder abuse case at Cumberland Lodge. The community is grateful for her dedication and perseverance in pursuing in an investigative of this magnitude. Members of the CEARC and the Elder Abuse Consultation Team collaborate regularly with Detective McGillvray and are continually impressed with her police work combating elder abuse in the Ottawa community, as well as educating both seniors and service providers about this insidious crime. We also wish to express our appreciation for your on-going support of the Ottawa Police Service Elder Abuse Section and value our partnership as we strive to further develop and enhance our response to elder abuse. Thank you again for your commitment to this challenging and important work and please extend our appreciation to A/Sgt McGillvray.

Date Received: 29 July 2010

From: Member of the Public

OPS Member: Constable Matthew Lafrance

Excerpts from Letter: On July 21^st, I was hit by a car while biking home from work, breaking my right collarbone in 3 places. A bystander called 911 and Ambulance, Fire and Police all arrived on the scene rapidly and carried out their work quickly and professionally. I was taken to the General Hospital. Thank you very much for the timely response and professional work done by Constable Matthew Lafrance. The confidence and skill displayed by all first responders brightened up an otherwise miserable afternoon.

Date Received: 05 August 2010

From: Member of the Public

OPS Members: Sergeant Robert Bernier and Constable Darwin Turner

Excerpts from Letter: I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sergeant Bernier and Constable Turner for giving of their own time to become Honour Guards at the Memorial Service for William (Bill) Paris. Those attending were most impressed by their presence for they lent respect and elegance to the occasion. My friends and I think the men and women in the Police Service are just great!

Date Received: 10 August 2010

From: Member of the Public

OPS Member: Constable Brenda Milloy

Excerpts from Email: I want to let you know how much we appreciate Constable Milloy’s assistance with my daughter’s school project on community helpers. My daughter Sarah had recently developed an interest in police work and was quite excited about a school project to interview a community helper. However, my daughter can be extremely shy. As parents, we were concerned about how my daughter’s shyness might affect the interview and thus her school project. Constable Milloy was and is absolutely wonderful! Constable Milloy helped my daughter through her shyness and answered approximately two to three pages of questions on police work and her experiences in the job. She truly helped my daughter feel at ease with the interview process and she introduced her to a fellow police officer.