Police officers involved in life-saving incidents, and in exceptional work to make their communities better and safer, were recognized tonight at Government House.

Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon and Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton presented awards to 82 outstanding officers in a ceremony marking B.C.'s 33rd annual Police Honours Night.

Some of the award winners include:

• Ten Integrated Homicide Investigation Team members whose perseverance linked three murders of sex-trade workers. The officers then worked through their 2007 year-end holidays to secure the arrest of the serial killer.
• Five Victoria Police officers who braved a fully engulfed home and a neighbouring residence to rescue residents and mitigate the fire's spread.
• Two officers severely injured in their efforts to maintain order during the Stanley Cup Riot.

Overall, 38 officers received the award of valour, the highest award for a police officer in B.C. These officers made a decision to place themselves at substantial risk to save others. Forty-four police officers were awarded meritorious service honours. This recognizes exemplary performance that exceeds expectations and enhances the public image of police officers.

Quotes:

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton -

"When life-or-death situations demand quick-thinking, courage, ability and more, police are often the ones to rise to those challenges and ensure the safest possible outcomes. In other cases, exceptional officers go beyond the call over longer periods of time, bringing a vision of enhanced public safety to the communities they serve. Police Honours Night recognizes both types of service as essential to the safety and quality of life we enjoy in B.C."

Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon -

"I take comfort knowing British Columbians are protected and served by such exemplary police officers. Tonight's recipients reflect the values and dedication of our police agencies, and I thank them for their service to our citizens."

Quick Facts:

• Government recognizes RCMP and municipal police service members who have acted in an exemplary manner through Police Honours Night each fall.
• A committee of representatives from the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the ministry's Police Services Division selects the award recipients.
• In all, about 9,000 members of RCMP, independent municipal, First Nations and transit police services deliver policing throughout B.C.

Learn More:

Police Services Division website: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/policeservices/

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602

BACKGROUNDER

The following honourees were selected by a committee of representatives from the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ministry of Justice's Police Services Division.

AWARDS OF VALOUR:

Vancouver Police Department

Acting Staff Sergeant Jeff Harris and Constable Colleen McKitrick - struggled to rescue a dangling woman who was determined to commit suicide.

Sergeant Malcolm Evanson and constables Name Withheld (x2) - co-ordinated a safe end to a drugged man's rampage on a busy street.

Constable Erik Kerasiotis - stood his ground during the Stanley Cup Riot, enduring great risk and serious injury.

Constable Micheal Laurin - suffered a severe concussion while covering fellow Emergency Response Team members during the Stanley Cup Riot.

Constable Bryan Smith and former constable Elizabeth Crowther - sustained and stopped a knife attack by a man whose parole had just been revoked.

Constable Sean Streich - helped to protect another officer and passersby from a violent attack by a knife-wielding suspect.

Victoria Police Department

Sergeant Darrell Fairburn - searched a burning home and helped to mitigate the loss of life in a house fire earlier this year.

Constables Christopher Gilbert and Boris Stark - stopped a violent assault on a woman by an armed man.

Constable Mark Jenkins - pulled a suicidal, drowning man to safety before other emergency responders could arrive.

RCMP Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team

Sergeant Glen Fishbook and constables Mark Adrain, Chris Clemett, Adam Cormier, Bentley Fooks, Luke Johnston, James King, Angus MacLean and Alexis Richer - entered and searched a burning home where a gunman was holed up and three residents were missing.

Sergeant Bob Shaw (now with Lower Mainland Police Dog Service), Corporal Howard Lew, constables Robert Bridgewater, Richard Cappiello, Taylor Daigle, Ryan Dawiskiba (now with RCMP "V" Division), Luke Johnston, James King, Ewan Long, Angus MacLean and Alexis Richer - surrounded and stopped an armed killer in the midst of his spree.

Integrated Homicide Investigation Team

Constable Aaron Jabs - helped free a young family from their overturned vehicle in a ditch.

Comox Valley RCMP

Constable Tammy Douglas - ran into a burning home, saved one resident, and stopped another from going back in.

West Shore RCMP

Constables Bing Chow and Justin Floyd - entered a creek to free a hypothermic man from his overturned and submerged vehicle.

AWARDS OF MERITORIOUS SERVICE:

Vancouver Police Department

Sergeant Wally Argent - built long-term relationships with First Nations that aided police in maintaining communication and minimizing confrontation during Occupy Vancouver protests.

Sergeant James Flewelling and Detective Constable Jordan Lennox - swung from the side of an apartment building to stop a distraught woman from jumping to her death.

Sergeant Dawn Richards - used her extensive gang expertise to lead a wide-ranging attempted murder investigation and help quickly stop a complex mortgage fraud scheme targeting seniors.

Detective Constable Jasprit Mander - aided in protecting another officer and passersby from a violent, knife-wielding suspect.

Constables Eric Bazett, Matthew Mageau and Leonard Smith - rescued a hostage from a determined assailant who was holding a knife to her throat.

Detective Constable Ross Clarke - led many lengthy, high-profile murder probes and six investigations of in-custody and police-involved deaths.

Detective Constable Eric Davis - while off-duty and unarmed, observed, pursued and aided in the arrest of an armed robber.

Constables James Hooper, Kyle Marynick and Name Withheld - used less-lethal weapons to safely subdue a disturbed woman who was advancing on them with a machete.

Detective Constable Chad Machuik and Constable Kyle Nishi - saved the life of a suicidal man who was slashing his wrists.

Victoria Police Department

Sergeant Alexander Yelovatz and constables Marie Bourque, Brent Keddell and Eric LeQuesne - helped to mitigate loss of life in and comfort survivors of a house fire earlier this year.

RCMP Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team

Sergeant Major Darren Campbell (now with RCMP "E" Division HQ), Sergeant Derek Thibodeau and corporals Robert Howell and Kori Power - aided their team in surrounding and stopping an armed killer in the midst of his spree.

Integrated Homicide Investigation Team

Inspector Bradley Hugh Sheridan (now with Port Moody Police Department); staff sergeants Graham de la Gorgendiere and Bill Emery (Retired from Abbotsford Police Department); sergeants Joe Sobotin (now with Project E-Pesetta) and Vince Tucker (now with RCMP "E" Division HQ); corporals Kurtis Bosnell (now with Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment), Mike Koppang (now with "E" Division Human Resources Section) and Karen Verbeck (now with "E" Division Professional Standards); Constable Kale Pride and Detective Tom Wheatley (now with Abbotsford Police Department) - linked the killings of three sex-trade workers over 14 months, cancelled their year-end holiday plans and worked tirelessly to arrest the serial killer responsible.

Abbotsford Police Department

Constable Christopher Troughton - defused a dangerous confrontation with a known, violent offender.

Delta Police Department

Constable Dennis Mah - struggled with and successfully overpowered a man determined to kill his ex-wife and burn down her home.

Constable Grayson Smith - worked tirelessly to free and resuscitate a motorist from a vehicle that had rolled and submerged.

New Westminster Police Department

Constables Nicholas Ferguson, Cliff Kusch and Darryl Pakosh - helped to bring a violent suspect into custody alive.

Constable Ryan Long - grabbed a suicidal man just as he began to fall from a bridge, and pulled him to safety.

Oak Bay Police Department

Constable Julie Chanin - demonstrated extraordinary compassion and leadership in co-ordinating the remediation of an elderly hoarder's uninhabitable home.

South Coast BC Transportation Authority Police Service

Constables Trevor Nakashima, Dan Young, and Name Withheld - stopped an armed robbery suspect who was threatening bystanders with a knife, bringing her safely into custody.

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602