4th Annual Police Services Hero of the Year Awards Campaign Launches Today
Public Encouraged to Nominate Their Local Police Service Heroes
TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - The Police Association of Ontario (PAO) launched its fourth annual Police Services Hero of the Year Awards today, encouraging Ontarians to nominate police service heroes in their communities who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Last year, the campaign garnered over 300 nominations from residents across the province.
This year, an additional award category has been added to the existing two in order to remind the public that the work of police service employees – such as 911 dispatchers, forensic analysts and victim services personnel – is equally as important as the work of front-line police officers. Beginning today, members of the public can nominate their local police services heroes for one of three awards:
- On-Duty Difference Maker – Uniform/Sworn Police Officer
- On-Duty Difference Maker – Civilian Police Service Employee
- Community Role Model (open to both sworn officers and civilian police employees)
The stories of last year's award recipients exemplify the best of Ontario's policing professionals:
- Cst. Elizabeth Skelding, Waterloo Regional Police Service – On-Duty Difference Maker
- Cst. Amy Finn, Chatham-Kent Police Service – Community Role Model
"Every day, police officers across Ontario put their lives on the line for the people they serve, and police service employees work hard to keep their communities safe in various ways," said PAO President, Bruce Chapman. "At meetings with police associations across the province, I regularly hear police officers and civilian personnel recount stories of how a potentially negative situation was avoided because of what they did during a seemingly routine day at the office," said Chapman. "Each day, our members leave their homes to start their shifts not knowing what adverse and life-threatening circumstances lay ahead of them," he said.
Ontarians are encouraged to submit their nominations online at www.policehero.ca or via direct message on social media (Facebook or Twitter). Nominations will be accepted until March 25, and award winners will be announced at the PAO's Annual General Meeting in Ottawa during the week of May 13, 2019.
About the Police Association of Ontario (PAO):
Founded in 1933, the Police Association of Ontario (PAO) is the official provincial representative body for 18,000 sworn and civilian front-line police personnel from 48 police associations across Ontario. A unifying voice for advocacy in policing, the PAO provides its member associations with representation, resource, and support.
Website: www.policehero.ca
Facebook: @PoliceAssociationofOntario
Twitter: @PoliceAssocON
SOURCE Police Association of Ontario
Sarah Coulter, Communications Manager, [email protected], 416.569.7577; Bruce Chapman, President, [email protected], 905.599.4813
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