Public Safety and Solicitor General
At the 39th annual Police Honours Night at Government House, 154 people in law enforcement were recognized for their bravery and dedication.
Police officers throughout the province have shown resilience, adapting to complex and dynamic work environments. On the front lines, officers have partnered with fire departments, B.C. ambulance services and 911 operators to keep communities safe, defuse perilous situations and put the safety of British Columbians ahead of their own.
“Day in and day out, police officers work hard throughout British Columbia to keep our communities, homes and roads safe by preventing crime and responding to a variety of calls for service,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Over the past two nights, we recognized the brave people serving in police departments throughout our province. Policing is a difficult job, and the pandemic spawned a whole new set of challenges. I want to thank our officers for putting their lives on the line for the safety and security of our communities.”
Janet Austin, lieutenant governor of B.C., and Farnworth presented awards to officers of all ranks from municipal departments and the RCMP for their extraordinary bravery in life-saving incidents, devotion above and beyond the call of duty, and work to make communities safer in British Columbia.
Some of this year’s recipients:
- a team of officers from the RCMP E Division operational strategy branch who developed and delivered a new and innovative format for high school students participating in the Young Women in Public Safety Program;
- a corporal and two constables from the West Coast RCMP marine detachment that performed a search under extreme conditions for a tugboat crew in distress;
- a team of officers from the RCMP major crime section – special projects and Surrey detachment for a gang-related investigation, resulting in the seizure of drugs, firearms and cash;
- a constable from Surrey for exceptional performance during a 30-year investigation of domestic violence;
- a team of officers from the federal serious and organized crime unit at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) for exceptional performance during an investigation involving a transnational trafficking network that was importing drugs through YVR (Project E-Pensum), as well as the proceeds of crime investigation that followed;
- a sergeant and two constables from Vancouver who responded to a hotel fire, and searched for and evacuated residents in distress;
- constables from South Coast British Columbia Transit Authority Police Service who pursued an armed suspect who had injured a fellow officer; and
- a sergeant from West Vancouver who sustained severe injuries while tending to a person in distress on a bridge.
“Every person we’ve honoured over the past two nights has demonstrated extraordinary bravery, quick thinking and initiative in different and unpredictable situations,” said Austin. “It was an honour to hear the stories of these brave men and women, who put themselves in jeopardy to ensure the rest of us can live in peace and safety. We thank them for their service and acknowledge all who support them to do such impactful work for the province.”
In all, 45 officers received the award of valour, which is the highest award for a police officer in B.C. It is awarded to police officers who acted for the benefit of others while knowingly placing themselves at substantial risk of death or serious injury. These officers exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, to attempt to save or protect others from harm.
In addition, 109 officers were recognized with honours for meritorious service for exemplary performance that answered the call to service in exceptional ways. It is awarded to police officers who demonstrated that they acted in a manner beyond the call of duty.
Quick Facts:
- This is the first Police Honours Night event held since 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
- Police Honours Night recognizes members of independent municipal police forces, the RCMP, First Nations, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit and transit police services who have acted in an exemplary manner.
- More than 9,000 members of these services deliver policing throughout B.C.
- Representatives from the BC Association of Chiefs of Police, the Association of Municipal Chiefs of Police of British Columbia, the RCMP and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General’s policing and security branch comprise a committee that selected the recipients.
Learn More:
Police Services Division website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/policing-in-bc
Two backgrounders follow.
