Local law enforcement officers we're very proud of

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

************************* Chamber honours local police officers SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - Several local police officers were recognized as ‘Officers of the Year’ at the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce 14th annual Police Services Awards Luncheon on Monday, May 9 at the Comfort Suites Hotel and Conference Centre.

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

The recipients included:

- The Community Oriented Response and Enforcement (CORE) Unit of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service

- Constable Brian Speakman of the Ontario Provincial Police: Sault Ste. Marie Detachment

- Constable Alan Montgomery of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Sault Ste. Marie Detachment

- Staff Sergeant Chris Kelly 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.

2011 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.

Shelley Barich, general manager 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.

She 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.

Monday’s luncheon featured an address by Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Chris D. Lewis.

As commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Lewis is responsible for one of North America’s largest deployed police services.

Commissioner Lewis oversees front-line delivery, administrative support services as well as specialized and multi-jurisdictional investigations throughout the province of Ontario.

On behalf of the approximately 120 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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