The winners of the 2014 Toronto Police Service Police Officer(s) of the Year award were announced during the annual gala reception held last evening at the Toronto Region Board of Trade.
This award was created by the Board of Trade in 1967. Its purpose is to recognize officers of the Toronto Police Service who have made significant contributions to making Toronto one of the safest cities in the world. Each month, an officer or a group of officers is selected for Police Officer(s) of the Month, based on the following criteria: bravery, humanitarianism, superior investigative work and outstanding police skills.
The monthly winners are then re-evaluated by a panel of judges and a winner is chosen to receive the Police Officer(s) of the Year award.
This year the winners are: Constables Marcelinus Borsboom, Erik Corba, Onofrio Ferlisi, Kristal McCullough, and David Ribarovic from 14 Division, and Daniel Macnab from the Marine Unit.
These officers demonstrated outstanding bravery, professionalism and dedication to duty. The professional manner with which they conducted themselves is worthy of substantial recognition, not only by their peers but also the Toronto Police Service and the community in which they proudly serve.
On March 20, 2014, Constables Corba and Borsboom were on general patrol when they smelled smoke. A call from the dispatcher confirmed that a building nearby was on fire. As the officers arrived at the location, they observed thick smoke rolling out of the building and they were informed that several people were trapped inside.
As Toronto Fire Services was not yet on scene, Constables Corba and Borsboom entered a building and were faced with thick dark smoke. The officers dropped to the floor and crawled up the stairs on their hands and knees, keeping themselves below the heavy smoke. On the second floor, they found an unconscious female. Constable Borsboom dragged her out of the apartment and Constable Corba carried her outside. Both officers then entered the building again.
The fire kept growing stronger and the officers began to have trouble breathing and were forced to exit the building. Once outside, they briefed Toronto Fire Services of the people still trapped inside and assisted with the evacuation.
Constables Macnab, McCullough, Ribarovic and Ferlisi had also arrived on scene and were assisting Toronto Fire Services with the rescue. Constables Macnab and McCullough climbed to the roof of the building and evacuated a person. The officers also drove an ambulance to the hospital on an emergency run and later assisted with the ongoing investigation. Constables Ribarovic and Ferlisi began searching the exterior of the building and found a victim calling for help. The officers secured ladders for Fire personnel during the rescue and assisted with rushing two victims to hospital on an emergency run.
Fifteen victims were rescued including two children. Unfortunately two residents succumbed to injuries sustained from the fire. The building was completely destroyed.
All of these officers, without hesitation, put their own lives at risk in an attempt to rescue the victims. These officer are to be commended for their bravery, professionalism and teamwork.
Constables Borsboom, Corba, Ferlisi, McCullough, Ribarovic and Macnab were also selected as Police Officers of the Month for March 2014.
Congratulations to these officers and to all the award-winners for their continuing efforts to make Toronto a safe city.
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.
This award was created by the Board of Trade in 1967. Its purpose is to recognize officers of the Toronto Police Service who have made significant contributions to making Toronto one of the safest cities in the world. Each month, an officer or a group of officers is selected for Police Officer(s) of the Month, based on the following criteria: bravery, humanitarianism, superior investigative work and outstanding police skills.
The monthly winners are then re-evaluated by a panel of judges and a winner is chosen to receive the Police Officer(s) of the Year award.
This year the winners are: Constables Marcelinus Borsboom, Erik Corba, Onofrio Ferlisi, Kristal McCullough, and David Ribarovic from 14 Division, and Daniel Macnab from the Marine Unit.
These officers demonstrated outstanding bravery, professionalism and dedication to duty. The professional manner with which they conducted themselves is worthy of substantial recognition, not only by their peers but also the Toronto Police Service and the community in which they proudly serve.
On March 20, 2014, Constables Corba and Borsboom were on general patrol when they smelled smoke. A call from the dispatcher confirmed that a building nearby was on fire. As the officers arrived at the location, they observed thick smoke rolling out of the building and they were informed that several people were trapped inside.
As Toronto Fire Services was not yet on scene, Constables Corba and Borsboom entered a building and were faced with thick dark smoke. The officers dropped to the floor and crawled up the stairs on their hands and knees, keeping themselves below the heavy smoke. On the second floor, they found an unconscious female. Constable Borsboom dragged her out of the apartment and Constable Corba carried her outside. Both officers then entered the building again.
The fire kept growing stronger and the officers began to have trouble breathing and were forced to exit the building. Once outside, they briefed Toronto Fire Services of the people still trapped inside and assisted with the evacuation.
Constables Macnab, McCullough, Ribarovic and Ferlisi had also arrived on scene and were assisting Toronto Fire Services with the rescue. Constables Macnab and McCullough climbed to the roof of the building and evacuated a person. The officers also drove an ambulance to the hospital on an emergency run and later assisted with the ongoing investigation. Constables Ribarovic and Ferlisi began searching the exterior of the building and found a victim calling for help. The officers secured ladders for Fire personnel during the rescue and assisted with rushing two victims to hospital on an emergency run.
Fifteen victims were rescued including two children. Unfortunately two residents succumbed to injuries sustained from the fire. The building was completely destroyed.
All of these officers, without hesitation, put their own lives at risk in an attempt to rescue the victims. These officer are to be commended for their bravery, professionalism and teamwork.
Constables Borsboom, Corba, Ferlisi, McCullough, Ribarovic and Macnab were also selected as Police Officers of the Month for March 2014.
Congratulations to these officers and to all the award-winners for their continuing efforts to make Toronto a safe city.
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.