Police officers from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and local detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP and Anishinabek Police Service were recognized at the 17th annual Police Services Awards Luncheon held Tuesday by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce.
Newly appointed Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Chief Bob Keetch spent his second day on the job at the ceremony, getting to know community partners and officers from surrounding police services at the event.
"That's another on of my growth curves, to reach out and contact various detatchment commanders and establish a relationship," said Keetch.
The new chief added that the Greater Sudbury Police Service, where he served previously, doesn't have a comparible award ceremony in partnership with their chamber of commerce.
"It's about putting a name to a face and beginning to establish a relationship with the various services and the community," said Keetch.
A news release from the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce follows.
Several local police officers were recognized as Officers of the Year at the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce 17th annual Police Services Awards Luncheon on Tuesday June 17.
Officers from each of Sault Ste. Marie’s four area police services received the distinction.
The recipients included:
- Constable Darin Rossetto of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.
- Constable Barry Kelly of the Ontario Provincial Police – Sault Ste. Marie Detachment.
- Constable Dan Chevalier of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Sault Ste. Marie Detachment.
- Senior Constable Marlene Martin of the Anishinabek Police Service – Garden River Detachment.
Criteria for the Officer of the Year awards include:
- continued efforts in the pursuit of excellence as a police officer.
- a high standard of performance and dedication in the day to day duties of a police officer.
- any performance that is over and above the call of duty.
- any incidence of bravery, life saving or attempted life saving or rescue.
- community-mindedness and overall service to the businesses and citizens of our community.
Each award is sponsored by a local business or agency that recognizes the efforts of our local police services and the important role that they play in the overall betterment of our community.
2014 award sponsors included: the Station Mall Merchants Association, Stone’s Office Plus, Northwood Funeral Home, and Women In Crisis (Algoma) Inc. – a United Way member agency.
Ironside Consulting Services Inc and Northern Dental Care were contributing sponsors of the luncheon.
Mark Barsanti, Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce President and master of ceremonies for the event drew attention to the fact that Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area is fortunate to have four exceptional police services safeguarding our citizens and our communities.
He noted that it is very important that we take the time to honour the hard work and commitment of the police officers safeguarding Sault Ste. Marie and area and extended thanks to the hundreds of additional officers who work in-and-around our community.
Tuesday’s luncheon featured a presentation by Certified Criminal Profiler, Jim Van Allen, who discussed the role of behavioural analysis and psychological profiling in serious criminal investigations.
Van Allen was the Manager of the OPP Criminal Profiling Unit for fifteen years and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
He is recognized internationally for his expertise, and is regularly called upon by major news and media outlets to comment on, and offer insights into high profile crimes and criminal incidents.
On behalf of those in attendance and the 750 plus member businesses of the Chamber of Commerce, the ceremonies concluded with congratulatory remarks and a sincere thank you to all of the police officers of Sault Ste. Marie and area was extended "for making the community a safer place to live, to work and to raise our families.”
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