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REPORT RAPPORT |
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DATE:
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June 25 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: 28 March 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Cst. Jonathan Kenney and Cst. Ryan Lechleitner
Excerpts from Letter: I want to compliment and express my family’s gratitude for the work carried out by Constables Jonathan Kenney and Ryan Lechleitner, who managed the file pertaining to my brother.
Our brother is developmentally handicapped with a touch of well managed schizophrenia. The situation which involved my brother could have resulted in a lot of anxiety and possibly trauma had the Ottawa Police not had a Mental Health unit staffed with highly professional and obviously well trained officers dedicated to ensuring that their duties are discharged in these kinds of circumstances, with sensitivity and insight to the unique and complex realities of people with duo diagnoses.
It is clear to me that professionalism, sensitivity and insight guided these officers’ work and this is something for which they, you, the OPS and the community, should be very proud.
Date Received: 23 February 2012
From: Bryonie Baxter, Executive Director, Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa
OPS Member: Cst. Jennifer Tennant
Excerpts from Letter: Our client was arrested for theft recently by Officer Tennant having stolen pet food from a store. The client shared that his actions were driven by poverty and an inability to afford the food. Officer Tennant arrested our client who was subsequently sent for theft diversion counselling by the courts, but also showed up at this client’s house some time later bringing him some dog food.
This example of the caring and compassion by one of your Officers for the situation of our client is heart warming. I want to personally and on behalf of the agency thank Officer Tennant for her actions and let her know her generosity and caring did not go unnoted by our client nor by this agency.
Date Received: 11 February 2012
From: Arthur Yrenaya, Program Director K2 Martial Arts, Ottawa
OPS Member: Cst. Woody Aspilaire
Excerpts from Letter: A few weeks ago, the alarm to our business was triggered as our side entrance was not locked by one of our employees. Cst. Woody Aspilaire visited our location and locked up for us until such time I was able to check it out. He graciously returned later that afternoon and made sure that everything was alright. It was excellent service on his part and great to see our police officers serving the community so well.
Date Received: 19 March 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: A/Sgt C. Rolofs, Csts T. Brannan, D. Van Zutphen, C. Danson
Excerpts from Letter: On Tuesday February 7, 2012 we had to obtain a Form 2 to have my mother admitted for psychiatric help. There were four officers involved and they were all outstanding. They were very calm, respectful and a tremendous help to all of us during this difficult procedure. They treated my mother carefully and were not forceful. They took the time to listen to her and us and came up with a solution for her transfer to the hospital in a way that allowed all of us to be comfortable and keep our dignity. The patience that they showed was amazing.
Date Received: 8 April 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Cst. Neil Roy
Excerpts from Letter: I received a traffic ticket this afternoon and want to provide feedback regarding the officer who stopped me. As most people I suspect do, I felt like an idiot about my offence. Officer N. Roy was very kind and offered appropriate suggestions to ensure continued safe driving. I felt less like a fool after he explained the situation. I appreciated his honest feedback and non-threatening demeanour. He just seemed like a very nice person. I thank him for making an unpleasant occurrence a little less so.
Date Received: 11 May 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Stephanie Blades, Dwayne Knight, Ryan Lorette and Jose Barrahona
Excerpts from Letter: The staff and students of Glebe Collegiate Institute, along with our surrounding community would like to thank Stephanie Blades, Dwayne Knight, Ryan Lorette and Jose Barrahona for their volunteer efforts during our annual “Kids for Kids” Drive for CHEO, that took place on May 10th, 2012. Their involvement was inspiring and encouraging. Students were excited to have members of the service help and as this was done on their own time, the students saw them as mentors and leaders. Their participation with a scavenger hunt, barbeque, and floor hockey game encouraged many students to participate in our fundraising campaign. The dedication to the school and community are greatly appreciated, and the students of Glebe are enthusiastic about having future involvement and participation from the Ottawa Police Service.
Date Received: 18 March 2012
From: Det. Andrea Statham #3434
OPS Members: Sgt. Dave Zackrias and Det. Marc Denis
Excerpts from Letter: On Saturday April 21, 2012, I contacted Sgt. Dave Zackrias looking for assistance in locating an individual that I had charged with sexual assault here in Calgary. I obtained information that the individual’s mother may be living in the Ottawa area. Given that he was also wanted in B.C., I contacted Sgt. Zackrias to explain the depth of the investigation, the media coverage this file had received and my efforts in working with the Crown Prosecutor’s office to extend the warrants Canada-wide. Sgt. Zackrias immediately responded to my email and said that he would assist me in any way he could. Over the next seven days, Sgt. Zackrias confirmed the location of the individual’s mother, searched for the individual through his databases, arranged a strategic time to conduct a door knock, made an arrest plan using the profile I provided, all while waiting for the Calgary Crown Prosecutor’s office to approve the Canada–wide warrant. Thanks to Sgt. Zackrias and Det. Denis, new investigative avenues have been opened to locating the individual through the contact information they obtained, I can rule out the possibility of the individual living in Ottawa, and finally due to Sgt. Zackrias’ willingness to search for the individual immediately, the crown prosecutor was motivated to get the warrant extension approved quickly. I am extremely grateful for the enthusiastic, professional and timely assistance from Sgt. Zackrias. So often the efforts of officers go unnoticed or unrecognized. I just wanted to say how much I appreciated Dave’s assistance and share the professional experience I had with his supervisors.
Date Received: 3 April 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Cst Nicola Saunders
Excerpts from Letter: I would like to commend Officer Saunders from Barrhaven for the fair yet firm approach she applied with my 17-year old son following an incident today. She made him accountable for his actions while at the same time giving him an opportunity to right his ways. She demonstrated she is very qualified at working with youth, and it bodes well for our community that someone like Officer Saunders is there to work with our youth when they need guidance. It is a comfort to know that Officer Saunders is on active patrol in the Barrhaven neighbourhood, and it assures me that many youth will be guided down the right roads as a result. Kudos to Officer Saunders, and please extend my thanks to her for the respectful and professional way she handled the incident with my son.
Date Received: 24 March 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Cst. Robert McConnachie
Excerpts from Letter: I am a 20 year old male (Canadian but from Lebanese descent). A few days ago I got pulled over by Cst. McConnachie for going a little too fast on the highway. I explained my story and told him why I was slightly in a rush. Cst. McConnachie not only believed everything I said but was so compassionate and professional that it was actually pleasant interacting with him. The reason I went out of my way and actually sent this e-mail was to inform you that as a young Arabic male, it made me feel really good to see that Ottawa has some really good police officers. My trust has grown enormously for the Ottawa Police. Thank you Constable McConnachie!
Date Received: 15 May 2012
From: M.F. McHugh Education Centre
OPS Member: Cst. Matthew R. Hunt
Excerpts from Letter: I have had the privilege of working with Cst. Matthew Hunt over the past year. He has been an exemplary SRO. My staff, students and I have been grateful having an SRO who makes such an effort to avail himself to us, even on short notice. Cst. Hunt is a positive role model to the children in our program and they look up to him and are pleased and excited to see him at the school. Not all of our children have had favourable dealings with police in the past. He has helped shift many of the children’s views around police and the importance of police in our communities. Our program is stronger with Constable Hunt as our SRO. I would be thrilled to learn that he would be able to continue on over the next 4-5 years in his current role. The consistency of having an SRO who is known to staff and students is crucial.
Date Received: June 2012
From: Ministry of the Attorney General
OPS Members: Sgt. Daniel Simser and Sgt. Gerry Kinnear
Excerpts from Letter: I was one of the two Assistant Crown Attorneys assigned to prosecute Mohamed Jama Yusuf for the wrongful death of Sean Murphy. The Lead Investigator and File Coordinator on the homicide were Sgt. Daniel Simser and Sgt. Gerry Kinnear. On behalf of Matthew Humphreys and myself, I would like to convey our appreciation and admiration for the outstanding police work performed by Sgt. Simser and Sgt. Kinnear on this file. This was an extremely difficult investigation and it is only due to their unending perseverance and dedication that the person responsible for Mr. Murphy’s death was identified, apprehended and brought to Justice. On numerous occasions, members of the Murphy family expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the exemplary work of these two Officers. Their experience and professionalism provided invaluable assistance to the prosecution team. Sgt. Simser and Sgt. Kinnear are a credit to your profession and Mr. Humphreys and I are proud to have worked alongside them during the last three years.