Police Officer of the Year - Sault Ste. Marie

Sergeant Lisa Kenopic, Constable Armando Tempesta and Constable Louise Oliver were named yesterday as this year's Chamber of Commerce Police Officers of the Year from Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.

Here's what Sault Ste. Marie Police Chief Bob Davies had to say about them: ************************ Sergeant Lisa Kenopic, Constable Armando Tempesta and Constable Louise Oliver are all members of the community services branch of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.

Sergeant Lisa Kenopic was hired by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service on June 1, 1988.

Throughout her career she has worked in patrol services, investigation services, high school liaison officer and is currently officer in charge of community services since 2007.

Constable Armando Tempesta was hired by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service on September 24, 1984.

Prior to joining our service, Army was a member of the Metro Toronto Police from 1974 to 1984.

Constable Tempesta worked in patrol services, and in community services since 2000.

Constable Louise Oliver was hired by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service on August 29, 1994.

She has worked in patrol services, investigation services and in community services since 2004.

Community services has a long-standing tradition of providing community-based policing programs to our comunity such as safety patrollers, Block Parents and Risk Watch.

They also provide numerous safety and educational programs for our 39 elementary schools, including the values, influences and peers (VIP) program, which focus on tobacco, drug and alcohol education and information on vandalism, theft, Internet crime, racism, healthy relationships and dating violence.

Sergeant Kenopic, Constable Tempesta and Constable Oliver all identified a need to increase awareness to our students regarding bullying issues and other issues facing the youth of our community.

They brought forward a new initiative that included an interactive website called Kids Safety Zone which is located at www.ssmps.org

As a result of their recommendation, this website was created and is dedicated to keeping kids in Sault Ste. Marie safe.

The goal of this new website is to help kids develop a positive attitude toward safety.

On this site kids, parents, teachers and coaches can become informed of the challenging issues kids are faced with.

The site includes everything from bullying, drug and alcohol, safety issues such as winter safety, water saftey, Halloween, bike safety, Internet, street-proofing and the choking game.

It also provides students with an opportunity to contact a police officer i they are having problems or are being bullied.

I would encourage each and everyone of you to view this important site.

It is my pleasure and privilege to nominate these three officers to be joint recipients of the Chamber of Commerce Annual Officer of the Year Award for 2009.

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