From safely stopping a sudden knife attack in a retirement home, to preventing a suicidal female from jumping off a bridge, Delta Police officers were recognized Thursday night for their exception work in the community over the past year.
The DPD held its bi-annual awards night at Tsawwassen Springs with more than 30 different awards handed out to some of the department’s finest officers.
Volunteers and citizens were also recognized during the evening, including a Victim Services volunteer who’s donated a stunning 5,200 hours to the program over a 20-year volunteer career. Additionally the efforts of two men who took action in two different violent stabbing incidents were honoured.
“We lucky tonight in that we are not only recognizing our officers, but also our citizens and volunteers who play such a vital role in our community,” said Chief Neil Dubord. “Many of these are team awards. It’s hard to differentiate individuals in a team award, so although there are many awards…we have a great organization and I’m so proud of the people that are here, it is recognizing the people who deserve it.”
Other highlights included: a community policing award for an officer who’s built partnerships and trust with the Tsawwassen First Nation, a complex child sexual assault investigation which began in 2015 and eventually resulted in the conviction of the suspect for 25 offences, and a 16-year jail sentence and Project Green Planet, a drug investigation that netted 94 drug and weapons charges against Red Scorpion gang members and associates, as well as the eradicating a drug line.
The award-winners included:
Chief Constable Commendations
Stabbing at Immaculate Conception School
A/Sgt. John Jasmins
Knife wielding man at KinVillage
Const. Paul Gibson
Deputy Chief Commendations
Alex Fraser Bridge suicide attempt
Constables Gordy Gill, Jeremy Pearce, Kevin Boyce, Jennifer West
Alex Fraser Bridge suicidal female
Constables Rob Semler and Geoffrey Young
Accidental self-inflicted laceration
Sergeants Sarah Swallow and Clayton Ennis, and Const. Bradley Mear
Goose Bay suicide attempt
Sgt. Mike Scholz and Const. David Dyck
Stabbing at Immaculate Conception School
Const. Gary Koonar
CPR on suicidal female
Constables Rob Kennett and Jennifer West
Alex Fraser Bridge – mental health apprehension
Const. Graham Bruce
Superintendent Commendations
Fraud against senior citizen
Const. Kristine Pemberton
Project Virtue
S/Sgt. Heath Newton, constables Scott Formby, Richard Stabler, Christina Bruce, Gary Koonar, Aman Bachra, and Stan Cratchtley (Retired – VPD)
Project Green Planet
S/Sgt. Heath Newton, Sergeant Ben Bruneau,, Constables Sean Cessford, Kaitlyn Garcia, Rob Semler, Chris Ward, Emily Wawruck, Scoff Formby, and Martin Levangie
Project Phoenix
Sergeants Rick Peeler, James Sandberg, Gwen Vaughan-Smith, Jason Formby and Constables Richard Stabler, Aman Bachra, Christina Bruce, Brad Coutu, Deanna Church, Kevin Dueck, Tiffany Cooper, and Ms. Kim Henke
Sexual offence investigation
S/Sgt. Jody Waldron, Constables Jeff Miller, Shane McLaughlin, and Bob Elder
Residential fire evacuation – North Delta
Sgt. Trent McKie and Constables Brady Browne, Dalida Omerovic and Brad Coutu
Goose Bay suicide attempt
S/Sgt. Dave Vaughan-Smith, Const. Brian Short, and Rsv. Const. Justin Wong
Attempt suicide by police
Sgt. Raman Atwal, Constables Jim Ingram, Gordy Gill, Kris Willcock, Chad Bristow, Richard Molenaar, and Air 1 Crew Sr. Const. Roger Thomson and Const. Don Mitchell
Stabbing at Immaculate Conception School
Constables Garth Hoffman, Scott Cartmill, Josh Lehbauer, and Bianca Boyce
Suicidal male – negotiator
Const. Lee Chapman
IT projects implementation and DARS & Tableau Compstat enhancements
Jim Cicalo
Community Policing Award
TFN crime prevention
Const. Mike Grandia
3-on3 basketball tournament
Sgt. Sukh Sidhu
Volunteer of the Year
Dianne Taylor
Delta Police Outstanding Citizen Award
Stabbing at Immaculate Conception School
Mr. Rohan D’Souza
Delta Police Heroic Action Award
Stabbing intervention
Baljinder Sahota
Community Partnership Award
Pacific Assistance Dog Society
St. John’s Ambulance Lifesaving Award
CPR on suicidal female
Constables Rob Kennett and Jennifer West
Accidental self-inflicted laceration
Sergeants Sarah Swallow, Clayton Ennis and Const. Bradley Mear
Stabbing at Immaculate Conception School
Constables Garth Hoffman, Josh Lehbauer, Scott Cartmill, Bianca Boyce and Rohan D’Souza
Emergency Health Services Vital Link Award
CPR on suicidal female
Constables Rob Kennett and Jennifer West
