The Police Officer of the Year Award is an annual tribute dinner held by the Toronto Region Board of Trade.
The Board created the award in 1967. Its purpose is to recognize members 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 is selected for Police Officer of the Month, based on the following criteria: bravery, humanitarianism, superior investigative work and outstanding police skills.
Three years ago, the TPS Business Excellence Award was created. Its purpose is to recognize members of the Toronto Police Service who have made significant contributions to the Toronto Police Service and the City of Toronto. Each submission is judged on the following criteria: innovation, community service, technical achievement and customer service and reliability.
This year's Police Officer of the Year event will be held at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, 1 First Canadian Place, on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at 6 p.m.
Click here for promotional video for the Award dinner event.
Leading up to the event, we will be presenting the stories of those nominated for the Police Officer of the Year and for the TPS Business Excellence Award.
Police Officers of the Month for August 2012: Constables Irvin Albrecht, Allister D'Silva, Christine Handy and John Smissen, Forensic Identification Services
On August 3, 2008, a seven-year-old child died under the care of her custodial guardians. The post-mortem examination revealed the victim had died from complications of multiple blunt-force impacts.
The guardians were arrested and charged. Constables Irvin Albrecht, Allister DSilva, Christine Handy and John Smissen conducted subsequent forensic investigations which allegedly revealed the girl was a victim of abuse within the apartment. The forensic search of the apartment took place over a period of two weeks, with over 800 exhibits located and seized, bloodstain-pattern analysis completed and the apartment meticulously photographed and laser-scanned.
Based on the forensic investigation, charges against the guardians were upgraded from Second-Degree Murder to First-Degree Murder.
A preliminary inquiry was held at College Park Courts in 2009, at which time the forensic team worked diligently to enter exhibits in court. These exhibits were numerous enough to require them to be brought to court in a truck.
In May 2012, the guardians pled guilty to Second-Degree Murder and were sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 15 years.
Had it not been for the efforts of this team of forensic officers, the outcome would undoubtedly have been quite different.
In recognition of their outstanding forensic investigative skills and dedication to duty, Constables Irvin Albrecht, Allister D'Silva, Christine Handy and John Smissen have been selected as Police Officers of the Month for August 2012.
For further information, please contact TPS Corporate Communications at 416-808-7100 or Matthew Kofsky, Toronto Region Board of Trade, at 416-862-4558.
The Board created the award in 1967. Its purpose is to recognize members 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 is selected for Police Officer of the Month, based on the following criteria: bravery, humanitarianism, superior investigative work and outstanding police skills.
Three years ago, the TPS Business Excellence Award was created. Its purpose is to recognize members of the Toronto Police Service who have made significant contributions to the Toronto Police Service and the City of Toronto. Each submission is judged on the following criteria: innovation, community service, technical achievement and customer service and reliability.
This year's Police Officer of the Year event will be held at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, 1 First Canadian Place, on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at 6 p.m.
Click here for promotional video for the Award dinner event.
Leading up to the event, we will be presenting the stories of those nominated for the Police Officer of the Year and for the TPS Business Excellence Award.
Police Officers of the Month for August 2012: Constables Irvin Albrecht, Allister D'Silva, Christine Handy and John Smissen, Forensic Identification Services
On August 3, 2008, a seven-year-old child died under the care of her custodial guardians. The post-mortem examination revealed the victim had died from complications of multiple blunt-force impacts.
The guardians were arrested and charged. Constables Irvin Albrecht, Allister DSilva, Christine Handy and John Smissen conducted subsequent forensic investigations which allegedly revealed the girl was a victim of abuse within the apartment. The forensic search of the apartment took place over a period of two weeks, with over 800 exhibits located and seized, bloodstain-pattern analysis completed and the apartment meticulously photographed and laser-scanned.
Based on the forensic investigation, charges against the guardians were upgraded from Second-Degree Murder to First-Degree Murder.
A preliminary inquiry was held at College Park Courts in 2009, at which time the forensic team worked diligently to enter exhibits in court. These exhibits were numerous enough to require them to be brought to court in a truck.
In May 2012, the guardians pled guilty to Second-Degree Murder and were sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 15 years.
Had it not been for the efforts of this team of forensic officers, the outcome would undoubtedly have been quite different.
In recognition of their outstanding forensic investigative skills and dedication to duty, Constables Irvin Albrecht, Allister D'Silva, Christine Handy and John Smissen have been selected as Police Officers of the Month for August 2012.
For further information, please contact TPS Corporate Communications at 416-808-7100 or Matthew Kofsky, Toronto Region Board of Trade, at 416-862-4558.