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REPORT RAPPORT |
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DATE:
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22 October 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: 4 October 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Cst. Kelly P. Ryan & Jo-Anne Tobin
Excerpts from Letter: This is both for Officer Ryan and the kind receptionist. They were of exceptional assistance to me in connecting to Dulles Airport Police as we tried to find our daughter who had missed a series of flights from there to Ottawa. (They were) professional, understanding and working hard to be of assistance. I want to express my gratitude.
Date Received: 26 July 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Cst. Barbara Babcock
Excerpts from Letter: Cst. Babcock spent the better part of her day with our family on Sunday. She was thorough, respectful and insightful. She truly helped us through a very difficult situation.
Date Received: 19 July 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Cst. Christopher O’Grady
Excerpts from Letter: While traveling through Ottawa hauling a 28 ft trailer, following our GPS we went down a one way street the wrong way. Officer O’Grady was in the row of traffic coming towards us. He helped us very much by stopping traffic and guiding us to highway 417. Officer O’Grady was very courteous and helpful, thank you so much.
Date Received: 7 September 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Cst. Todd Sheppard
Excerpts from Letter: I’m a police officer with the RCMP and reside in Orleans. I presently oversee the Peer/Family Support Services provided to all of our Canadian police officers deployed by the International Peace Operation Branch (IPOB). My wife was involved in a MVA (motor vehicle accident) with a pedestrian in the Orleans area. She was very upset and emotionally affected by the incident. Having no cell phone with her at the time, she was completely at a loss of what to do and drove home. When she contacted me, I informed her to drive down to your east division station to report the incident. Cst. Sheppard who assisted her with the reporting and statement met her and by his professional, compassionate and pleasant personality was able to calm, reassure and provide the assistance and help she needed. My wife walked away from your station reassured and extremely pleased and surprised as to “how nice and helpful that police officer had been. I have met with Cst. Sheppard this morning to thank him personally.
Date Received: 17 July 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Cst. Sonya Cesare and Cst. Gurprit Dhaliwal
Excerpts from Letter: I work in the shipping yard at Centennial Glass. Our yard was vandalized and property was stolen and destroyed twice on two consecutive nights. The second day went out as a 911 call and two officers responded, one of which was a female officer who was above anyone’s standards, and professionalism. She and her partner were able to keep a full yard of employees calm. The two officers were highly professional and should be commended for their action that day.
Date Received: 22 August 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Members: Intervention
Excerpts from Letter: I placed numerous calls using 911 to get help during my son's crisis and every time I got very positive response from police officers. Some of them really impressed me as they showed high knowledge in my son's mental health problem. They were calm and helpful. I have a great respect for all police men and women!
Date Received: 11 August 2012
From: Charles Bordeleau, Chief of Police
OPS Member: Stefan McClelland
Excerpts from Letter: I’d like to personally commend the brave actions of one of our members, Stefan McClelland. Yesterday, a small plane crash occurred in the Ottawa River near the Cumberland Ferry. Stefan, who was fishing near Petrie Island at the time, witnessed the crash and immediately made his way over to assist. Stefan was able to help the pilot out of the plane, which was quickly sinking, and onto his boat. He then took the pilot to shore and remained on scene until further help arrived.
Date Received: 4 October 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Stefan McClelland
Excerpts from Letter: I have read and heard about the plane crash. Stefan McClelland saved this man; without a doubt he is a hero. His excellent quick judgment is exceptional. Thank you Stefan you are a good man.
Date Received: 13 September 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Supt Jill Skinner and Sergeant Mark Gatien
Excerpts from Letter: On behalf of the Public Works Department with the City of Ottawa I want to recognize the great support and dedicated efforts that your officers have been providing during the repairs to the collapsed culvert in the east bound lanes of Highway 174. Our staff in the field and working in our traffic control centre have been singing the praises for the speed and efficiency demonstrated by your officers in reacting to traffic situations and how they provide input and guidance on detour set ups and traffic management plans. I would like to point in particular to the onsite coordination being provided by Sgt Mark Gatien who is the liaison between our field operations and your officers. Mark has worked tirelessly to ensure traffic flows as quickly and efficiently as possible given the trying circumstances. He has been cordial and accommodating when responding to questions and forthcoming with innovative suggestions to help improve the traffic situation. Supt Jill Skinner should be commended for her logistical and communication support when we are dealing with media, political or public questions. She has represented us and Police Services professionally and provided information and recommendations that were timely and helpful in dealing with the numerous calls or queries related to the sinkhole situation. While the last week has been a real test of our City response to difficult problems it is rewarding to know that we can rely on your team of professional Police Officers to participate and contribute to the recovery operation.
Date Received: 10 September 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Cst Ken Muse
Excerpts from Letter: On Friday, September 7, I was pulled over by an unmarked silver vehicle for speeding on Viewmount at around 10 a.m. But when the officer realized I was in the midst of a miscarriage, he not only followed me home to make sure I was ok, he also followed me to the hospital when I realized it was best to go there instead. He was compassionate and in the face of a sorrowful situation, very calming and reassuring. He did not leave the hospital until he saw I was OK. This man is the epitome of what an officer should be; a true class act. Both my husband and myself thank him from the bottom of our hearts for ensuring my safety in a "human" manner. We truly hope this officer is commended for what may seem small to someone else...but was an enormous act of kindness to myself.
Date Received: 31 August 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Cst Jordon Shields
Excerpts from Letter: I was in the Orleans office to file a minor incident report and had my handicapped son with me (born deaf/blind with CP) who still has many related behavioural issues, one of which is babbling to himself constantly. The officer who handled my case was really marvelous; he was patient, and expressed genuine interest in his condition. The other front desk officers too were very understanding and one even gave him a colouring book and stickers while we waited. They should be commended for their work.
Date Received: 30 August 2012
From: Member of the Public
OPS Member: Cst Darren Saunders
Excerpts from Letter: I would like to compliment the officer controlling the traffic at the corner of Prince of Wales and Baseline with morning (Thursday August 30th). For such a busy intersection it must be very difficult to manage when the lights are down, and the officer patrolling did such an excellent job. Usually I find there isn't much organization and that drivers ignore instructions, but this morning it ran so smoothly. Maybe even smoother than when the lights are even on! Thank you for this, I didn't want such a great job to go unnoticed.