Just a FEW of the ones that deserve special thanks for the work they do

69 police officers from across the province received recognition last night at BC’s 31st annual Police Honours Night. Of those officers, 22 received awards for valorous service (exemplary service in the face of extreme hazard and personal risk) ... 43 for meritorious service (involves actions above the call of duty that enhance the image of policing in BC) ... as well as outstanding service recognition for a retired RCMP deputy commissioner and three retired chief constables.

A media release from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General provided details of how these officers were selected, saying that they … were selected by a committee comprised of representatives from the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General’s Police Services Division.

We often hear a lot of the negative things in and around policing ... these are just a FEW of the ones that deserve special thanks for the work they do. 

One of the things I hope you will note is the types of situations these men and women were in ... as well as the number of off-duty officers who were recognized.

Awards of Valour

For "Valourous Service"

Const. Gerald Lau (New Westminster Police Service) While off duty, came to the aid of a fellow police officer who was struggling with an aggressive suspect who had a hold of the officer’s firearms holster.

Sgt. Michael Drummond (Vancouver Police Dept) Safely apprehended a deranged, suicidal male armed with an ice pick.

Const. David Marchand (Vancouver Police Dept) – Placed himself at personal risk while performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a suicidal woman who had overdosed on animal tranquilizers.

Name Withheld (Cranbrook Detachment) – Saved the life of a suicidal male.

Sgt. Scott Rempel (Kelowna Detachment) – While off duty, rescued a male trapped in a burning vehicle.

Sgt. Howie Manning, Cpl. Brad Myhre, Cpl. Derek Smart, Const. William VandeBrand  (Prince George Detachment ) – Safely evacuated residents from a burning apartment building.

Staff Sgt. Steve Crawford (Ridge Meadows Detachment) – While off duty, rendered assistance to a woman being held at knifepoint and confronted the armed suspect.

Const. Anton Ermolaev (Sidney/North Saanich Detachment) – Entered a burning house to search for occupants.

Const. Rosaland Guineau (Sidney/North Saanich Detachment) – Entered a smoke-filled house to rescue a female occupant.

Sgt. Mark Baxter, Cpl. Chris Robinson, Cpl. William Turner, Const. Atish Prasad, Name Withheld (Surrey Detachment) – Forced entry into a residence where a male suspect with a firearm had already shot two people.

Const. Gregory Barnard, Const. Denise Bendfeld, Const. Ryan Routley (West Kelowna Detachment) – Safely evacuated residents who had become trapped by a fast-moving forest fire.

Const. Dustin Kerr (Whistler/Pemberton Detachment) – Rescued a driver and young child from a partially submerged vehicle in the Gates River.

Community Const. Terry Edgar (Ditidaht First Nation) – Rescued an individual from a burning house.

For "Meritorious Service"

Awards of Meritorious Service

Sgt. Michael Novakowski  (Abbotsford Police Dept) – Developed several programs to engage youth, their parents and the community, to make positive choices in their lives.

Sgt. Donald Symes, Const. Larry Worock (Oak Bay Police Dept) – Negotiated the successful surrender of a suicidal male armed with a shotgun.

Retired Deputy Chief Const. Steve Sweeney (Vancouver Police Dept)  -- Developed and managed the Vancouver Police Dept.’s operational plan for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Insp. Tony Zanatta (Vancouver Police Dept)  – Successfully directed a team during an eight-hour standoff that resulted in the safe apprehension of a deranged male armed with a knife and the rescue of a young child hostage.

Sgt. Andrew Chan, Sgt. Jeff Neuman, Const. Jordan Lennox, Const. Michael Wagar (Vancouver Police Dept) – Safely apprehended a deranged male who had assaulted several people and then barricaded himself in an apartment that he had set on fire.

Sgt. Kevin Torvik, Const. Ian Barraclough, Const. Christine Cho (Vancouver Police Dept) – Disrupted a kidnapping attempt and apprehended potentially dangerous suspects.

Name Withheld (Vancouver Police Dept) – Negotiated the successful surrender of a suicidal female threatening to jump from the roof of a parkade.

Insp. Darrell McLean (Victoria Police Dept) – Achievement in developing the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team.

Const. Franck Chardey (Comox Valley Detachment) – Negotiated the successful surrender of a distraught and suicidal male armed with a gun.

“E” Division Criminal Operations:

Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass (Ret.) – Achievement in initiating and developing the RCMP’s crime reduction strategy.

“E” Division National Security Community Outreach Program:

Sgt. Steve Corcoran – Developed a number of programs to detect, prevent and disrupt threats to Canada’s national security.

Island District Aboriginal Policing Service:

Insp. John Brewer – Mediated the successful resolution to the native land claim dispute at Bear Mountain.

Island District Integrated Technological Crime Unit:

Sgt. Tom Guineau – Used innovative technical skills during a murder investigation that resulted in two individuals being arrested, charged and subsequently pleading guilty to first-degree murder.

Lower Mainland Integrated Forensic Identification Section:

Cpl. Daryl Krumbhols – Successfully concluded a murder investigation.

Staff Sgt. Rob Lemon (Ridge Meadows Detachment) – While off duty, took control of a serious motor vehicle incident that killed two people and injured several others.

Cpl. Jonn Uzelac (Surrey Detachment) – Rescued a suicidal male attempting to jump off the Pattullo Bridge.

Vancouver Integrated Technological Crime Unit and Integrated Child Exploitation Unit:

Const. Virginie Achtymichuk, Name Withheld – Dedication to a child pornography investigation.

Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit:

Asst. Commissioner Bud Mercer (Ret.) – Outstanding leadership as the chief operating officer responsible for security at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Supt. Al Niedtner (Ret.), Insp. Joanne McCormick, Sgt. (Ret.) Bruno Gatto, Name Withheld – Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Venues.

Supt. Brent Bloxham, Supt. Kevin deBruyckere – Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Operations.

Insp. Barry Baxter – Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Mobilization Team.

Insp. Dudley Powell-Williams – Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Human Resource Unit.

Staff Sgt. Steve Ramsden, Sgt. Douglas Rogers, Cpl. Dietmar Stiller, Const. Selia Miller - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Logistics.

Sgt. Rob Fairweather, Cpl. Manon Chouinard – Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Community Relations.

Sgt. Phil Goulet - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Technical Operations.

Sgt. Cam Kowalski - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Aviation Planning.

Sgt. Rob Marshall - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – File Management.

Const. Dale Bendfeld - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games – Exercise Planner.

Awards for Outstanding Service

Retired Chief Const. Dan Maluta (Nelson Police Dept) – Recognized for outstanding service to policing in B.C., 1982-2011.

Retired Chief Const. Lorne Zapotichny (New Westminster Police Service)  – Recognized for outstanding service to policing in B.C., 1968-2011.

Retired Chief Const. Ron Gaudet (Oak Bay Police Dept) – Recognized for outstanding service to policing in B.C., 1980-2011.

Retired Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass (RCMP “E” Division) – Recognized for outstanding service to policing in B.C., 1992-2011.

Police Honours Night commenced in 1981 and provides an annual occasion for the province to recognize members of the RCMP and independent police services who have performed an exemplary service to the citizens of British Columbia. 

The honourees are selected by a committee comprised of representatives from the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the Policing and Security Programs Branch, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. 

Police Honours Night is hosted by the Lieutenant Governor at Government House in Victoria.