Updated Nov. 18 to add Backgrounder

Police officers who have saved British Columbians from knife- and gun-wielding assailants, burning cars and homes, youth gang involvement and child predators were honoured at B.C.'s 31st annual Police Honours Night.

In all, 69 officers are receiving awards:

• Twenty-two for valorous service - that is, exemplary service in the face of extreme hazard and personal risk.
• Forty-three for meritorious service, which involves actions above the call of duty that enhance the image of policing in B.C.
• One retired RCMP deputy commissioner and three retired chief constables, for outstanding service.

Lieut. Gov. Steven Point, and Shirley Bond, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Attorney General, presented the awards at a ceremony at Government House.

Quotes:

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Attorney General Shirley Bond -

"By highlighting these exceptional achievements, we strive to encourage a continuing tradition of excellent police service in B.C., and to support public confidence in the depth and integrity of that service."

Quick Facts:

• Police Honours 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 of representatives from the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the ministry's Police Services Division.
• Approximately 9,000 members of RCMP, independent municipal, First Nations and transit police services deliver policing across British Columbia.

Learn More:

Police Services Division website: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/police_services/index.htm

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
250 356-6961

BACKGROUNDER

Nov. 17, 2011 Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Police Honours Night award recipients

The following honourees 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. The names of some recipients cannot be disclosed.

The communities named below reflect where the officers were stationed when they performed the service for which they were recognized during Police Honours Night.

Awards of Valour

New Westminster Police Service:

Const. Gerald Lau (photo (flic.kr) ) - 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.
(flic.kr)

Vancouver Police Dept.:

Sgt. Michael Drummond (photo) - Safely apprehended a deranged, suicidal male armed with an ice pick.

Const. David Marchand (photo (flickr.com) ) - Placed himself at personal risk while performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a suicidal woman who had overdosed on animal tranquilizers.

Cranbrook Detachment:

Name Withheld - Saved the life of a suicidal male.

Kelowna Detachment:

Sgt. Scott Rempel (photo (flickr.com) ) - While off duty, rescued a male trapped in a burning vehicle.

Prince George Detachment:

Sgt. Howie Manning (photo (flickr.com) ), Cpl. Brad Myhre (photo (flickr.com) ), Cpl. Derek Smart (photo (flickr.com) ), Const. William VandeBrand (photo (flickr.com) ) - Safely evacuated residents from a burning apartment building.

Ridge Meadows Detachment:

Staff Sgt. Steve Crawford (photo (flickr.com) ) - While off duty, rendered assistance to a woman being held at knifepoint and confronted the armed suspect.

Sidney/North Saanich Detachment:

Const. Anton Ermolaev (photo (flickr.com) ) - Entered a burning house to search for occupants.

Sidney/North Saanich Detachment:

Const. Rosaland Guineau (photo (flickr.com) ) - Entered a smoke-filled house to rescue a female occupant.

Surrey Detachment:

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

West Kelowna Detachment:

Const. Gregory Barnard (photo (flickr.com) ), Const. Denise Bendfeld (photo (flickr.com) ), Const. Ryan Routley (photo (flickr.com) ) - Safely evacuated residents who had become trapped by a fast-moving forest fire.

Whistler/Pemberton Detachment:

Const. Dustin Kerr (photo (flickr.com) ) - Rescued a driver and young child from a partially submerged vehicle in the Gates River.

Ditidaht First Nation:

Community Const. Terry Edgar (photo (flic.kr) ) - Rescued an individual from a burning house.

Awards of Meritorious Service

Abbotsford Police Dept.:

Sgt. Michael Novakowski (photo (flickr.com) ) - Developed several programs to engage youth, their parents and the community, to make positive choices in their lives.

Oak Bay Police Dept.:

Sgt. Donald Symes (photo (flickr.com) ), Const. Larry Worock (photo (flickr.com) ) - Negotiated the successful surrender of a suicidal male armed with a shotgun.

Vancouver Police Dept.:

Deputy Chief Const. Steve Sweeney (Ret.) (photo (flickr.com) )- Developed and managed the Vancouver Police Dept.'s operational plan for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Insp. Tony Zanatta - 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 (photo (flickr.com) ), Sgt. Jeff Neuman (photo (flickr.com) ), Const. Jordan Lennox (photo (flickr.com) ), Const. Michael Wagar - 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 (photo (flickr.com) ), Const. Christine Cho (photo (flickr.com) ) - Disrupted a kidnapping attempt and apprehended potentially dangerous suspects.

Name Withheld - Negotiated the successful surrender of a suicidal female threatening to jump from the roof of a parkade.

Victoria Police Dept.:

Insp. Darrell McLean (photo (flickr.com) ) - Achievement in developing the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team.

Comox Valley Detachment:

Const. Franck Chardey (photo (flic.kr) ) - Negotiated the successful surrender of a distraught and suicidal male armed with a gun.

"E" Division Criminal Operations:

Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass (Ret.) (photo (flic.kr) ) - Achievement in initiating and developing the RCMP's crime reduction strategy.

"E" Division National Security Community Outreach Program:

Sgt. Steve Corcoran (photo (flickr.com) ) - Developed a number of programs to detect, prevent and disrupt threats to Canada's national security.

Island District Aboriginal Policing Service:

Insp. John Brewer (photo (flickr.com) ) - Mediated the successful resolution to the native land claim dispute at Bear Mountain.

Island District Integrated Technological Crime Unit:

Sgt. Tom Guineau (photo (flickr.com) ) - 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 (photo (flickr.com) ) - Successfully concluded a murder investigation.

Ridge Meadows Detachment:

Staff Sgt. Rob Lemon (photo (flickr.com) ) - While off duty, took control of a serious motor vehicle incident that killed two people and injured several others.

Surrey Detachment:

Cpl. Jonn Uzelac (photo (flickr.com) ) - Rescued a suicidal male attempting to jump off the Pattullo Bridge.

Vancouver Integrated Technological Crime Unit and Integrated Child Exploitation Unit:

Const. Virginie Achtymichuk (photo (flickr.com) ) , Name Withheld - Dedication to a child pornography investigation.

Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit:

Asst. Commissioner Bud Mercer (Ret.) (photo (flickr.com) ) - 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.) (photo (flickr.com) ), Bruno Gatto (photo (flickr.com) ), Name Withheld - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - Venues.

Supt. Brent Bloxham (photo (flic.kr) ), Supt. Kevin deBruyckere (photo (flickr.com) ) - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - Operations.

Insp. Barry Baxter (photo (flic.kr) ) - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - Mobilization Team.

Insp. Dudley Powell-Williams (photo (flic.kr) ) - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - Human Resource Unit.

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

Sgt. Rob Fairweather (photo (flic.kr) ), Cpl. Manon Chouinard (photo (flic.kr) ) - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - Community Relations.

Sgt. Phil Goulet (photo (flic.kr) ) - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - Technical Operations.

Sgt. Cam Kowalski (photo (flic.kr) ) - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - Aviation Planning.

Sgt. Rob Marshall (photo (flic.kr) ) - Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - File Management.

Const. Dale Bendfeld (photo (flic.kr) )- Outstanding contribution to ensuring a safe and secure 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - Exercise Planner.

Awards for Outstanding Service

Chief Const. Dan Maluta (Ret.), (photo (flic.kr) ) Nelson Police Dept. - Recognized for outstanding service to policing in B.C., 1982-2011.

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

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

Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass (Ret.) (photo) (flic.kr) , RCMP "E" Division - Recognized for outstanding service to policing in B.C., 1992-2011.

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
250 356-6961