Peterborough Police honoured for dedication to school safety

CAA SCO hands out annual award

PETERBOROUGH, ON, Nov. 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Long before they became police officers and swore to serve and protect their community, Peterborough Police Chief Murray C. Rodd and Constable John MacLeod volunteered as CAA School Safety Patrollers.

Today, the two are being honoured with CAA's School Safety Patrol Program Achievement Award at police headquarters. The annual award is given to a police service which stands out for its valuable contributions to keeping elementary school students safe, as well as lending exceptional support to the CAA School Safety Patrol (SSP) program.

"I'm proud to receive this honour for the Peterborough Police Service. I have fond memories of being a patroller when I was a child and recognize the tremendous value in this program. Our Service is proud to be a partner in this program which works to keep our children and community safe," said Chief Murray Rodd, Peterborough Police Service.

Constable John MacLeod has served with Peterborough Police for 15 years. For the last 5 years, MacLeod has managed the CAA School Safety Patrol program.

"Constable MacLeod is a dedicated police officer committed to the safety of the students in his community. MacLeod's passion for helping others and his involvement with the school safety program runs in his family. Not only was Constable MacLeod a safety patroller in his youth but currently his 13-year-old daughter is a foot patroller Captain," said Albert Pasceri, Community Relations, CAA SCO.  

This year, MacLeod helped organize a contingent of safety patrollers to attend the National We Day in Ottawa. He also introduced a rewards program to acknowledge the good deeds of the patrollers. Each year, he coordinates an end of the year camp day and picnic to thank patrollers for all their hard work.

Peterborough police have participated in the CAA School Safety Patrol program for over 40 years. Fifteen schools in Peterborough currently partner with CAA SCO and the police service to run the SSP program. There are over 300 foot patrollers in Peterborough and the program is expanding to include bus patrollers in 2016.

Meanwhile, over 800 schools in Ontario participate in the School Safety Patrol program and CAA SCO partners with over 55 police services to deliver the program.

As a leader and advocate for road safety and mobility, CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club which represents the interests of 2 million members. For over a century, CAA has collaborated with communities, police services and governments to help keep drivers and their families safe while travelling on our roads.

SOURCE CAA South Central Ontario

Media contact: Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Consultant, CAA SCO, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]; or Jeff LeMoine, Communications Consultant, CAA SCO, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone].