Four outstanding police officers recognized today

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

************************ SAULT STE. MARIE - Four local police officers were recognized as Officers of the Year at the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce 11th annual Police Services Awards Luncheon today.

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

The recipients included:

- Constable Sonny Spina of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service

- Constable Police Peter Van Den Diepstraten of the Ontario Provincial Police, Sault Ste. Marie Detachment

- Corporal Cheryle Hayden of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Sault Ste. Marie Detachment

- Staff Sergeant Kirk Kinghorn 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 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.

2008 awards sponsors included: the Station Mall Merchants Association, Brookfield Power, NCO Group and Credit Bureau Collections - Algoma District.

At the luncheon, Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce First Vice President Katherine MacRae noted that Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area “is fortunate to have not one, not two, but four exceptional police services safeguarding our citizens and our communities.”

MacRae emphasized the need for the awards program, noting: “It is very important that we take the time to honor the hard work and commitment of the police officers safeguarding our community."

She also noted that “there are several hundred additional officers who work in and around our community who are every bit as deserving of our recognition for the work that they do to keep our families and homes, our businesses and our community safe.”

Today’s luncheon featured an address by Detective Constable John Maione and Detective Constable Alison Rains of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Fraud Investigation Unit.

Detective Constables Maione and Rains addressed the issue of identity theft.

During the course of the presentation, they discussed the scope of this growing concern and discussed the types of information that people need to safeguard information and the use of technology for protection.

On behalf of the approximately 150 people in attendance and the 900-plus member businesses of the Chamber of Commerce, MacRae concluded the ceremonies with congratulatory remarks and extended a sincere thank you to all of the police officers of Sault Ste. Marie and area “for making the community a safer place to live, work and raise our families."

*************************