Five Police officers we're really proud of

NEWS RELEASE

Several local police officers were recognized as Officers of the Year at the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce 15th annual Police Services Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, May 15th. 

Officers from each of Sault Ste. Marie’s four area police services received the distinction.

The recipients included:

• Constables David Baskcomb and John McLean of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.
• Constable Luigi Bruni of the Ontario Provincial Police – Sault Ste. Marie Detachment.
• Constable Mike Lefebvre of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Sault Ste. Marie Detachment.
• Constable Peter Sewell of the Anishinabek Police Service – Garden River Detachment.

Criteria for the Officer of the Year awards include:

• continued efforts in the pursuit of excellence as a police officer.
• a high standard of performance and dedication in the day to day duties of a police officer.
• any performance that is over and above the call of duty.
• any incidence of bravery, life saving or attempted life saving or rescue.
• community-mindedness and overall service to the businesses and citizens of our community.

Each award is sponsored by a local business or agency that recognizes the efforts of our local police services and the important role that they play in the overall betterment of our community. 

2012 award sponsors included: the Station Mall Merchants Association, Brookfield Renewable Power, Northwood Funeral Home, and Women In Crisis (Algoma) Inc. – a United Way member agency.  Ironside Consulting Services Inc was a contributing sponsor of the luncheon.

James Caicco, First Vice-President of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce and master of ceremonies for the event drew attention to the fact that Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area is fortunate to have four exceptional police services safeguarding our citizens and our communities. 

He noted that it is very important that we take the time to honour the hard work and commitment of the police officers safeguarding Sault Ste. Marie and area and extended thanks to the hundreds of additional officers who work in-and-around our community.

Tuesday’s luncheon featured an address by Dr. Greggory S. LaBerge (shown), Director of the Denver Police Department Crime Laboratory, who discussed the impact of forensic investigations on basic policing. 

Dr. LaBerge has worked at the Denver Police Department for 16 years and during that time has been responsible for the operation of the Forensic Biology / DNA Section of the laboratory and started Denver’s cold case project in cooperation with the major crimes unit in 1999. 

He has worked with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) over the past 12 years to build one of the most successful DNA cold case programs in the world.

On behalf of the approximately 100 in attendance and the 800 plus member businesses of the Chamber of Commerce, the ceremonies concluded with congratulatory remarks and a sincere thank you to all of the police officers of Sault Ste. Marie and area was extended "for making the community a safer place to live, to work and to raise our families.”

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