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 Officer of the Month for October 2012: Constable Fred Teatero, 14 Division
On July 30, 2011, Constable Fred Teatero was on his way home home, after a midnight shift, when he saw a car stopped on the highway. He saw a man attempting to pull the driver from the vehicle. It was obvious that there was a struggle going on. Constable Teatero passed the vehicle, pulled over to the side of the road and called 9-1-1. While Constable Teatero was calling 9-1-1, he saw another person inside the vehicle struggling with the driver. It is alleged that the vehicle surged forward and was swerving on and off the highway. The vehicle then came to an abrupt stop and a partially clad woman got out of the passenger side. She ran to the front of the car towards Constable Teateros vehicle, however the vehicle suddenly accelerated towards the woman and struck her. Leaving the woman lying on the highway, the suspect vehicle continued to accelerate and fled the scene.
Constable Teatero relayed the events to the 9-1-1 dispatcher and provided a partial licence plate number of the suspect vehicle as it sped past.
Constable Teatero rendered first-aid to the woman, who was unconscious, bleeding and had labored breathing. As he comforted her, he continued to provide further details and a suspects description to the 9-1-1 dispatcher.
By this time, other motorists had stopped to assist. The original man who was struggling with the driver walked towards the woman but was stopped by Constable Teatero. The man identified himself as the woman's boyfriend and said that they had been hitch-hiking and picked up by the suspect.
Emergency services responded and the woman was taken to the hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
As a direct result of Constable Teatero's actions, the Ontario Provincial Police arrested a 32-year-old man, later the same day, and charged him with Second-Degree Murder.
In recognition of his outstanding police skills and dedication to duty, Constable Fred Teatero has been selected as Police Officer of the Month for October 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 Officer of the Month for October 2012: Constable Fred Teatero, 14 Division
On July 30, 2011, Constable Fred Teatero was on his way home home, after a midnight shift, when he saw a car stopped on the highway. He saw a man attempting to pull the driver from the vehicle. It was obvious that there was a struggle going on. Constable Teatero passed the vehicle, pulled over to the side of the road and called 9-1-1. While Constable Teatero was calling 9-1-1, he saw another person inside the vehicle struggling with the driver. It is alleged that the vehicle surged forward and was swerving on and off the highway. The vehicle then came to an abrupt stop and a partially clad woman got out of the passenger side. She ran to the front of the car towards Constable Teateros vehicle, however the vehicle suddenly accelerated towards the woman and struck her. Leaving the woman lying on the highway, the suspect vehicle continued to accelerate and fled the scene.
Constable Teatero relayed the events to the 9-1-1 dispatcher and provided a partial licence plate number of the suspect vehicle as it sped past.
Constable Teatero rendered first-aid to the woman, who was unconscious, bleeding and had labored breathing. As he comforted her, he continued to provide further details and a suspects description to the 9-1-1 dispatcher.
By this time, other motorists had stopped to assist. The original man who was struggling with the driver walked towards the woman but was stopped by Constable Teatero. The man identified himself as the woman's boyfriend and said that they had been hitch-hiking and picked up by the suspect.
Emergency services responded and the woman was taken to the hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
As a direct result of Constable Teatero's actions, the Ontario Provincial Police arrested a 32-year-old man, later the same day, and charged him with Second-Degree Murder.
In recognition of his outstanding police skills and dedication to duty, Constable Fred Teatero has been selected as Police Officer of the Month for October 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.