Posted:
9 p.m.)
Halifax Regional Police presented its 2012 Police Officer of the Year Award this evening at the department’s annual awards night.
Constables Gyles Gillis and Robbie Latreille, who work uniformed patrol, were named Police Officers of the Year. They are known for regularly and consistently obtaining extensive information that proves valuable to police investigations. Through their far-reaching investigative efforts, Csts. Gillis and Latreille were able to obtain information which assisted police in the investigation into the disappearance and subsequent homicide of Melissa Peacock. Their information proved to be critical in the laying of charges against two people in this case.
Other award recipients from the evening include:
- Detective Constable Kim Robinson received the Investigator of the Year award. Since 2005, D/Cst. Robinson has been the lead investigator on a number of similar files which involved a man breaking in to young women’s homes and watching them sleep, incidents which shocked the community. She coordinated all investigative efforts such as tracking the files, ensuring analysis of related intelligence, setting up surveillance teams and following countless leads. Her self-motivation and persistence, which came with personal sacrifice, led to charges against a man who is currently awaiting sentencing.
- Roberta Merson of the Finance department was named Civilian Employee of the Year.
- Sergeant Perry Astephen and LeeAnn Roache received Supervisor of the Year awards.
- Constable Phil Power received the New Blue Award which is presented to an officer with five years or less policing experience who has shown a great deal of promise by demonstrating professionalism, high integrity and excellence in policing.
- Voted on by HRP employees, the Employees’ Choice Awards went to Constable Don Jenkins and Wendy Boyd.
- An HRP Achievement Award was presented to Detective Constable John Hope, Staff Sergeant (Retired) Bob Kennedy, Sergeant (Retired) Gordie Lewis, Police Chaplain (Retired) Sandy MacDonald, Constable Mitch McIntyre, Constable (Retired) Barry Mombourquette and Detective Constable (Retired) Mike Praught. This dedicated team served as the organizing committee for the annual Scott Zinck Memorial Golf Tournament in memory of a fellow officer who lost his life to cancer when he was 27-years-old. Celebrating its 25th and final year in 2012, the tournament was the second longest running charity golf tournament in Nova Scotia, raising close to $170,000 in support of cancer research, programs and services.
The evening also represented an opportunity to applaud those employees who retired in 2012. Twelve police officers and two civilian employees were recognized for their years of service to our community. They departed Halifax Regional Police with 450 years of combined service.