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 November 2012: Constable Joel Manherz, Sex Crimes Unit
Dutch authorities began an investigation into a historic child-abuse and pornography case which dated back to the 1960s. Constable Joel Manherz, of the Child Exploitation Section, reviewed the historic case and was able to identify one of the children in the images. Through investigation, he was able to locate the victim, now 43. The victim provided him the opportunity to bring the offenders to justice. The identification of this one victim led to the identification of eight other victims.
A search warrant was executed and it is alleged that a large collection of exploitive child images was seized. The suspect had lived in England, Holland and France before settling in Canada. The suspect was charged and the prosecution proceeded to trial with information from victims who were between 10 and 15 at the time the offences were committed.
During the course of the trial, another victim came forward.
Constable Manherz has identified a total of 42 victims worldwide by their first name. The child-abuse images seized make up the largest seizure of self-made images ever located in Canada.
In November 2011 Constable Manherz presented the case as a case study at the Ontario Provincial Child Exploitation Conference. The presentation reminded the 300 investigators, who attended from across Canada and the United States, to never marginalize dated cases as victims of these cases will still want to be given a voice and the opportunity to face their abuser.
As a result of his perseverance, a dangerous offender was arrested and removed from the community.
In recognition of his superior investigative skills and dedication to keeping our children safe, Constable Joel Manherz has been selected as Police Officer of the Month for November 2012.
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 November 2012: Constable Joel Manherz, Sex Crimes Unit
Dutch authorities began an investigation into a historic child-abuse and pornography case which dated back to the 1960s. Constable Joel Manherz, of the Child Exploitation Section, reviewed the historic case and was able to identify one of the children in the images. Through investigation, he was able to locate the victim, now 43. The victim provided him the opportunity to bring the offenders to justice. The identification of this one victim led to the identification of eight other victims.
A search warrant was executed and it is alleged that a large collection of exploitive child images was seized. The suspect had lived in England, Holland and France before settling in Canada. The suspect was charged and the prosecution proceeded to trial with information from victims who were between 10 and 15 at the time the offences were committed.
During the course of the trial, another victim came forward.
Constable Manherz has identified a total of 42 victims worldwide by their first name. The child-abuse images seized make up the largest seizure of self-made images ever located in Canada.
In November 2011 Constable Manherz presented the case as a case study at the Ontario Provincial Child Exploitation Conference. The presentation reminded the 300 investigators, who attended from across Canada and the United States, to never marginalize dated cases as victims of these cases will still want to be given a voice and the opportunity to face their abuser.
As a result of his perseverance, a dangerous offender was arrested and removed from the community.
In recognition of his superior investigative skills and dedication to keeping our children safe, Constable Joel Manherz has been selected as Police Officer of the Month for November 2012.