REPORT RAPPORT

DATE:	22 February 2011
TO/DEST:	Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board
FROM/EXP:	Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service
SUBJECT/OBJET:	LETTERS OF COMMENDATION

RECOMMENDATION

That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.

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: 5 January 2011

From: Member of the Public

OPS Member: Constable Jeff Kelly

Excerpts from Letter:   Over the last 7 years, I have been the victim of an exhausting, stressful, and emotional criminal harassment case.  I am writing you today to say that I have had the fortune of working with Cst. Kelly who managed my case from the beginning, and to its conclusion.  I am aware that he will be retiring this month and felt that a letter of acknowledgement and gratitude be extended to him through you, so that you were aware of the exemplary job and role he has done on this case.  I would like to say that with his retirement, the Ottawa Police Service will be losing a very honourable employee.  Cst. Kelly worked extensively, diligently and very thoroughly on my case.  I felt that even when there had been many unfortunate turns of events that prolonged the matter and caused much anxiety and stress, Cst. Kelly continued to be vigilant in handling the file and ensured me that as a victim, the matter would not be forgotten and would be dealt with.  So to that extent, I am personally very grateful for having had him take this case seriously, and managing it so well.  I hope that his many years of service will be recognized, as the job that he did on my behalf was greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten.

Date Received: 06 January 2011

From: Member of the Public

OPS Members: Constable Trevor Smith and Constable Jason Degan

Excerpts from Letter: On the way home, we witnessed a heated argument between a couple, and at a point felt it was serious enough to call 911.  The dispatcher was courteous and professional, and seemed concerned both with our safety and the safety of the people we were calling about.  The police were on scene within a reasonable timeframe, and while we were not able to hear the conversation, only watch from an apartment higher up, Cst. Smith appeared to be doing his best to diffuse the situation.  Cst. Degan was on the scene soon after, and he also seemed to be doing a good job.

Date Received: 10 January 2011

From: Member of the Public

OPS Member:  Constable Trevor Johnson

Excerpts from Letter:   I had the opportunity to do a ride along with Cst. Johnson.  I wanted to write you to express my appreciation for being able to accompany Cst. Johnson throughout the day and how he went above and beyond to ensure an excellent experience for me.  I understand that while you get many requests for ride alongs your main focus is to provide service for the safety and security of the residents of Ottawa.  That is why Cst. Johnson deserves recognition for the way he combined the ride along with the requirements of his job by ensuring I was exposed to a wide range of calls for service.  Thank you to Cst. Johnson and the Ottawa Police Service for this opportunity as it has helped me in considering Ottawa as a police service to apply to.

Date Received:  12 January 2011

From: Member of the Public

OPS Member:  Constable Judith Drover-Janes

Excerpts from Letter:   We are parents of two children from the Ottawa community and are writing to you today about your School Resource Officer program.  Our letter has a two-fold purpose: one is to express our praise and deepest appreciation for one of your school resource officers, Cst. Drover-Janes. 

The other is to suggest that she would be a role model and/or instructor for the SRO’s because of her strong skills and talent at resolving issues among students at the elementary school level.  Her technique is to establish a rapport with young students so that she can teach them about their mistakes and help them to learn for the future and be a part of their development.  Thank you so much for your time in viewing this letter.

Date Received: 13 January 2011

From: Member of the Public

OPS Member: Constable Aristidis Tasoulis

Excerpts from Letter:   I was involved in a non-injury motor vehicle accident which was 100% my fault.  Cst. Tasoulis was very courteous and kind to both myself, my wife and the other driver.  It is nice to know that the Ottawa Police Service does have good officers.

Date Received: 14 January 2011

From: Member of the Public

OPS Members: Sergeant Debbie Miller, Constable Mark Tereschuk and Constable Martin Kovac

Excerpts from Letter:   My husband passed away unexpectedly and I am writing you to express my appreciation for the excellent service and compassion that my family and I have had from Sgt. Miller, Cst. Tereschuk and Cst. Kovac.  We are grateful for the professional but kind support from all the officers in the minutes after I found my husband, and while we waited for the coroner to arrive.  Cst. Tereschuk was the first person on the scene (even before the Paramedics) and I was reassured by his professional response.  He kindly offered to help out in any way he could and was the last officer to leave and waited until we had a plan for out next steps in place.  In a very professional manner, Cst. Kovac voiced empathy with our family, having fairly recently lost his own father.  He reassured us in a quiet, understated manner and supported our decisions to contact other family, neighbours and the funeral home. Sgt. Miller sat with us in my home as we were in shock and then beginning to grieve, and she seemed to know when we wanted to talk, and when we needed to be quiet. In addition, Sgt. Miller has taken the time out of her day to come and check on how I was doing on two subsequent occasions.  Her sympathy was so genuine. 

Date Received: 18 January 2011

From: Member of the Public

OPS Members: Constable Paul Cahill and OPS Members

Excerpts from Letter:   I was watching the CTV news last week and was pleased to see a positive story about the Ottawa Police Service.  The story was about four officers who took the time to try and help a homeless man by offering to buy him supper if he could stay off alcohol for a month.  Then Cst. Cahill offered to give him a guitar if he didn’t drink for a year.  Little did they know that their act of kindness  not only lead to helping this gentleman stay away from alcohol but also made it possible for him to see his children at Christmas.  These officers should be very proud of how their seemingly small act of kindness changed a man’s life and they certainly should be commended.  After seeing so many negative comments about the police, it was very uplifting to listen to this story here in Ottawa and for all of Canada to be able to hear about it as it also appeared on Canada AM.  I am very proud of our officers here in Ottawa and also feel you are doing a fantastic job Chief.

Date Received: 20 January 2011

From: Member of the Public

OPS Member: Constable Eric Mougeot

Excerpts from Letter:   Just one week before the shocking treatment of Stacy Bonds by Ottawa Police became public, I had the opportunity to take part in the overnight ride-along with an Ottawa Police Constable as he endured another kind of shocking treatment.  On the 15 of the 17 calls to which we responded, the officer was verbally abused, threatened and even pushed by drunken or cracked-out citizens with no respect for his badge.  But even more shocking than the abuse dished out by the people we met was the professionalism demonstrated by the officer as he calmly diffused each situation and restored order without raising his voice.  It was amazing.  I signed up for the ride-along because I wanted to see firsthand how things would be for my boyfriend if he fulfills his dreams to become a police officer.  It was certainly worse than I had ever imagined and it made me wonder why anyone would ever want to be in such stressful profession.  Cst. Mougeot said it really boiled down to wanting to help people get through their worst days.  Going into each call, Cst. Mougeot said he reminds himself that the person or people with whom he is about to deal are sons and daughters, and he asks himself how their parents would hope they were treated by a police officer.