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REPORT RAPPORT |
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DATE:
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23 April 2012 |
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TO/DEST:
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Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board |
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FROM/EXP:
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Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service |
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SUBJECT/OBJET:
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LETTERS OF COMMENDATION
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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)
Charles Bordeleau
Chief of Police
Attach. (1)
LETTERS OF COMMENDATION
Date Received: 24 January 2012
From: Richard Nolan, Managing Director, Kelly Funeral Home
OPS Member: Sergeant Stuart Feldman
Excerpts from Letter: On behalf of the Directors and Staff of the Kelly Funeral Homes, I would like to express our appreciation for the excellent service you and your colleagues provide. We have had several opportunities to work with the Ottawa Police and cherish our continued great working relationship. Every occasion we have had the pleasure to work with you and your fellow officers, the utmost dignified, professional service was provided. The compliments we receive from family members and friends illustrate the importance of your presence and the appreciation of how you honour the deceased. You are the City of Ottawa’s finest!
Date Received: 24 January 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Sergeant Mike Azar
Excerpts from Letter: I would like to extend my personal thanks for the assistance provided by Cst Azar during a Covert Video course this fall. This was Cst Azar’s first year as a course instructor and he proved to be an invaluable resource. He is a gifted instructor, with an ability to incorporate humour into his teaching method which immediately puts the students at ease and facilitates the learning of the course material. Cst Azar designed and introduced a new technique that proved to be an excellent teaching aid. The course Coordinator and other instructors look forward to having him participate in the course again. Cst Azar is a credit to the Ottawa Police Service and again, thank you for enabling him to assist in the Technical Investigations Training program, and for your continued support.
Date Received: 30 January 2012
From: D.P. Conley, Lieutenant-Colonel, National Defence
OPS Member: Sergeant Steve DeVille
Excerpts from Letter: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for granting Sgt DeVille the time off to allow him to support our Basic Operator qualification Course. Sgt DeVille was employed as a Close Quarter Battle Instructor from October 2011 to December 2011. He displayed the highest standard of professional skill and knowledge when instructing and coaching basic and advanced CQB skills at the individual and team level. Sgt DeVille’s ability to provide detailed explanations and constructive candidate critiques contributed to the high student success rate. His maturity and sense of responsibility reflect very well on him personally as well as on your department’s professional standards.
Date Received: 02 February 2012
From: Raymond Duquette, Inspector, Canadian Police College
OPS Member: Inspector Mark Ford
Excerpts from Letter: On behalf of the Canadian Police College, I would like to take this opportunity to express our most sincere appreciation to your department for supporting Insp Ford in his contribution to the Critical Incident Command course. As you know, this course is highly sought after and is attended by candidates from across Canada. Insp Ford has been instrumental in the development and sustainability of the above mentioned course. It is due to the hard work and dedication he has committed to the Incident Command program that, along with the National Incident Command Working Group Association and the Canadian Police College, we have been able to set national standards in this training. Insp Ford’s contribution in time and expertise are both a compliment to himself and the Ottawa Police Service.
Date Received: 03 February 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Sergeant Glenn Gordon, Constable Kevin Myers, and Constable Mark Lystiuk
Excerpts from Letter: Thank you for responding to our emergency call in December 2011. Thankfully, this was the first time I’ve had to use 911. I was extremely impressed with the Ottawa Police that were dispatched to our home. My husband had gone into cardiac arrest. Cst Myers and Cst Lystiuk arrived and were caring and helpful. Their reassurance, kindness and support to our daughter and I was exceptional. Even after my husband had been taken to the hospital, they stayed on to be sure we were safe and stable. In a time of crisis, it was wonderful to have that support. After spending a week in the Heart Institute and having a defibrillator installed, he is now home recovering very well. Please extend to the officers that were on duty our appreciation.
Date Received: 06 February 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Constable Christopher Warren and Constable Michael Braga
Excerpts from Letter: At about 2:00 am in the morning two of your officers were dispatched to our home to investigate 911 calls that were being sent from our line. We did not make these calls and it turns out to be some kind of technical glitch with Bell Canada. They are still investigating the issue with our line. Cst Warren and Cst Braga were exactly the kind of officers you can hope for in the Police Service. (polite, professional, friendly and concerned). Despite being woken in the middle of the night, we still appreciate that Cst Warren and Cst Braga are out there following up on reports. Thank you very much.
Date Received: 2 February 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Constable Jonathan Thebault & Constable Adam Grundy
Excerpts from Letter: Your officers graciously responded to a call and came to my home after my mate was abusive and I called for help. Cst Thebault and Cst Grundy were professional and reassuring. My husband recently had a brain bleed and surgery which may be the reason for his behaviour.
Date Received: 06 February 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Constable Derek Van Zutphen and Constable Shawn Cormier
Excerpts from Letter: In February 2012, my mother did not return to her house as expected. My mother is currently staying with my niece and when she did not return home in the evening, my niece became alarmed. She called her father (my brother) and I also became aware and since none of us knew where she was, and since this was unlike her, we quickly became concerned and called the Ottawa Police Service. My niece did most of the coordinating with my brother, and I also had the opportunity to speak with Cst Cormier. Cst Cormier was extremely attentive, eager to assist and knowledgeable about what to do in cases such as this. He quickly gathered and assimilated the necessary facts (including some health issues that caused us grave concern) and had already indicated that he had pertinent information. Although my mother was not found during the night, Cst Cormier ensured that a missing persons alert was issued. It was with the greatest relief that my brother was fortunate to find my mother the following morning at one of her favourite locations (Tim Horton’s). My brother, myself and our entire families wish to commend the Ottawa Police Service and especially Cst Cormier for responding so effectively and being so professional and diligent. As a boy and young man growing up in Ottawa, I always felt that I was lucky to live in the greatest city anywhere. The circumstances that we experienced in the last 2 days has reconfirmed in my mind that Ottawa is still the greatest city and the Ottawa Police Service have much to do with that.
Date Received: 06 February 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Various OPS Members
Excerpts from Letter: When reading the articles concerning the child porn bust, tears came to my eyes. Congratulations to the Ottawa Police members involved in finding these criminals. All of my thoughts and prayers are with the officers and the victimized children.
Date Received: 06 February 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Constable Martin Labelle
Excerpts from Letter: I wish to express my thanks to Cst Labelle for his kindness and understanding and overlooking my stupidity in the situation last evening around 11 pm in front of my house. His help and advice are greatly appreciated and will be remembered. I commend him for his professionalism and humanness.
Date Received: 06 February 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Constable Mark Talbot and Constable Sean O’Neill
Excerpts from Letter: Thank you to the Ottawa Police Service for helping out with a lost person. We really appreciated Cst Talbot’s and Cst O’Neill’s quick and thorough response.
Date Received: 06 February 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Constable Shane Gregan
Excerpts from Letter: I would like to comment on the level of service provided by Cst Gregan and that attended an MVA on Bank Street. I had stopped on the side of the road to check on a vehicle that had just rolled over into the ditch. While I was out of my vehicle after the driver of the roll over got out of her vehicle, a southbound vehicle side-swiped my car in which my young son was in. Thankfully, no one was injured in either accident. Cst Gregan handled the situation with the utmost professionalism. He was courteous, professional, efficient and very knowledgeable of what needed to be done. More importantly, they showed genuine concern to all involved by asking if everyone was ok and continuously ensured the safety of all while at the scene. Please convey my appreciation to them. Policing is not an easy job and very often thankless.
Date Received: 07 February 2012
From: D.P. Conley, Lieutenant-Colonel, National Defence
OPS Member: Constable Paul Hart
Excerpts from Letter: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for granting Cst Hart the time off to allow him to support our Basic Operator Qualification Course. Cst Hart was employed as a Firearms Instructor in September and October 2011. Cst Hart displayed the highest standard or professionalism, maturity and responsibility. He was required to demonstrate and explain basic and advanced firearms handling skills, and then coach and critique the candidates to help them reach the required standard of performance. Cst Hart’s performance throughout the training reflects very well on him personally as well as on your department’s professional standards.
Date Received: 07 February 2012
From: D.P. Conley, Lieutenant-Colonel, National Defence
OPS Member: Constable David Dewar
Excerpts from Letter: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for granting Cst Dewar the time off to allow him to support our Basic Operator Qualification Course. Cst Dewar was employed as a Close Quarter Battle Instructor from October to December 2011. He was employed as a Range Safety Officer and Instructor. His detailed knowledge of the CQB Skills and Drills being taught allowed us to employ him as a demonstrator when new material was being introduced. Cst Dewar’s ability to accurately critique and correct individual and team performance contributed to the high student success rate. Cst Dewar’s maturity and reliability reflect very well on him personally as well as on your department’s professional standards.
Date Received: 07 February 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Constable Wendy Lee and Constable Adrian Benjamin
Excerpts from Letter: The reason for this letter, is simply to say thank you for giving me the chance to take part in the Ride along Program which was possible thanks to Cst Lee and Cst Benjamin. I had the opportunity to take part in this program in November 2011. Cst Lee helped me to get familiarized with the program. Cst Benjamin allowed me to attend the ride along with him and truly see what the day in the life of an officer is really about. Overall, I have to say that it was a great experience, and one that I will truly remember as it gave me the ability to see the various situations officers may be faced with on a regular basis. I was also able to experience true police work in the field, dealing with the public and working along with officers. I had a chance to meet Cst Benjamin’s colleagues who, by the way, are all wonderful individuals, and with whom I never at any moment felt like out an outsider. Cst Benjamin was a great teacher.