Annual Awards Banquet 2011
On November 7th, the Police Services Board hosted the
26th Annual Awards Banquet at the Caruso Club to recognize police personnel, concerned citizens, organizations and partners of the Greater Sudbury Police Service. The following people were honoured at this year's ceremony:
30 Year Bar - 30 years of exemplary police service - Cst. Gayle Cividino
20 Year Medal - 20 years of exemplary police service - Sgt. Tim Burtt, Sgt. John Valtonen, Cst. Dean Brownlee, Cst. Randy Hosken
20 Years Service - Kevin Deforge, Kimberly Desroches
25 Years Continuous Service - Inspector Robert Keetch, Sgt. Robert Mactaggart, Sgt. Peter Orsino, Cst. Grant Dokis, Cst. Wayne Gibson, Cst. Albert Lapalme, Cst. Daniel Staneckyj, Denise Fraser, Marilyn Legault, Karen Levesque, David Sabourin
Auxiliary Unit Long Service - 5 years - Auxiliary Constable Tyler Cook
10 years - Auxiliary Sgt. Charles Beauparlant, Auxiliary Sergeant Kevin Deforge, Auxiliary Sgt. Steven Waytowich, Auxiliary Cst. Scott Champagne
15 years - Auxiliary Staff Sergeant Jerry Villeneuve
Larry Kilby Memorial Award - Auxiliary Constable Jeffrey Sajatovic - Jeffrey contributed 658.5 service hours to the Auxiliary program in 2010.
Retirements - Sgt. Loretta Ronchin, Sgt. Stephen Walker, Cst. Ron Albert, Cst. James Gibson, Cst. David Linnington, Diane Adam
Heroic Actions - David Ranger - On November 28th, 2010, David was following a vehicle that went down an embankment and was partially emerged in freezing water. David crawled into the back set and released the driver's seatbelt, preventing the driver's head from being submerged in the water. He then went for help.
Chief's Recognition - Roch Lafond - Rocky Lafond is a retired police officer. Since his retirement he has invested hundreds and hundreds of hours as a community volunteer at our local hospitals, as a driver with operation Red Nose, Rosery Florists and at the 2009 Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference and Global Showcase. He also volunteered in 2011 at the Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Floor Hockey Championships.
Cst. Linda Burns - Cst. Burns is the GSPS Senior Liaison officer. She goes beyond the call of duty for the less fortunate in our community, giving of her time and heart to the elderly in need of protection.
Cst. Darin Heffern - On February 3rd, 2011 Cst. Heffern, while off duty in his personal vehicle, observed a speeding vehicle, swerving on the road and driving dangerously. He called police dispatch and followed the vehicle at a safe distance until Uniform officers were able to stop the vehicle and take the driver into custody. The driver's alcoholic readings showed more than twice the legal limit.
Csts. Shawn Rainville and Lindsey Rhodes - On October 19th, 2010 Cst. Rainville and Cst. Rhodes were able to locate a missing 13 year old boy in the middle of a pit, surrounded by sand in the bush area off Falconbridge Road. The boy had been pinned underneath his quad and the officers pulled the quad off him and called for medical services.
Cst. Ryan Johnson and Paula Johnson - In October 2010, while on vacation in Mexico, Cst. Johnson and his wife Paula assisted a victim of a heart attack, who was staying at the same hotel. Cst. Johnson performed CPR and he and his wife Paula tended to all the needs of the individual's wife.
2011 Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Floor Hockey Championships Games Organizing Committee - Sgt. Joanne Pendrak, Sharon Baiden, Sgt. Marjorie Jeffery, Rosalie Charlebois, Natalie Corcoran, Severina Bazinet, Melissa Lariviere, Melissa Bamberger, Heather Lewis, Caroline Ross, Cst. Bert Lapalme, Cst. Ken Birtch, Paul Notman, Jeff Kuhn, Irene McCormick, Julia Ahola, Sheila Kelly-Petrin, Alexandra Holmes, Emilia Luczak, Mandy Hryciw, Anna Barsanti, Sarah Burden, Christina St. Onge, Patricia Bleau, Amanda Thirkill, Insp. Todd Zimmerman, Cst. Stephane Brouillette and Special Olympics Ontario President and CEO Glen MacDonnell and Games Advisor Jim Murray
Certificate of Merit - Community Mobilization Unit - Sgt. Marc Brunette, Cst. Ken Birtch, Cst. Randy Hosken
Police Assistance - Jill Riva-Patey - On April 7th, 2011 a multi-vehicle collision occurred in MacRae Heights. Jill, a nurse, provided triage and first aid to the victim's and ensured bystanders remained out of harm's way as the involved vehicles were leaking chemicals.
Debbie Casera - On May 29th, 2011 Debbie Casera, a nurse, assisted a victim of a motor vehicle collision where the vehicle left the roadway and rolled over in a ditch.
Mason Family Donation - In 2006, The Mason Family lost their son Jeffrey when he was tragically murdered. In November 2010, the accused killer was sentenced to 10 years for Manslaughter. The Mason Family recently approached GSPS to make a donation in Jeffrey's memory. This money will be used in the funding of a youth basketball program, coupled with literacy opportunity, run and supported by police mentors. Frances Mason, John Mason and Mike Mason presented the cheque.
Police-Community Partnerships - Len Walker - Len is an assistant Crown Attorney with the Sudbury Office. He has attended every training session for Citizens On Patrol since 2005 to instruct new volunteers. He has also participated as a guest lecturer at GSPS In Service Training as the Expert Crown and has participated on other courses as required.
NOAH - New Opportunities and Hope - Noah is a police advisory committee made up of neighbourhood residents of the Donovan, Flour Mill and Louis Street neighbourhoods, along with community partners and local businesses. NOAH's role is to mobilize neighbourhood and community members and engage them in collaborative partnerships with a variety of public and not-for-profit organizations and groups in Sudbury in order to initiate and support sustainable community and social development in the Donovan/Flour Mill and Louis St. areas.
Police - Community Leader - Elizabeth Davis- Elizabeth has been a great asset since she joined NOAH. She formed a Louis Street sub-committee within NOAH and helped form the Louis Street Association to make the Louis St. area a safer place to live by getting the residents more involved.
City of Greater Sudbury Partnership - Sudbury Transit Services - Sudbury Transit provided transportation services in 2009 for the Chiefs of Police and Police Leaders from across the province as well as in 2011 for the Special Olympics Ontario Floor Hockey Championships. Sudbury Transit provided services that were second to none.
The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire - Sgt. Joanne Pendrak, Sgt. Marjorie Jeffery
Sgt. Pendrak and Sgt. Jeffery have dedicated many years to improving the lives of disadvantaged youth in our community and have worked with Special Olympians for years. Both are actively involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run and both launched the Christmas event "Shopping with Cops"
Special Tribute - Heather McIntyre - Heather was a treasured friend and colleague who passed away this summer after a very short illness. At the time of her death, Heather was working in the Property Branch of the GSPS.
Photos also available on our facebook page! www.facebook.com/gsps.news
