Posted:
Media Release
International Association of Women Police – Community Service Award, 2017
Constable Stephanie Glendenning, Halifax Regional Police, Canada
Constable Glendenning has been a police officer for 22 years, she is the mother of two young boys and for the last 3 years has been performing the role of Community Response Officer, currently she is working in the Greystone community housing area of Spryfield.
Constable Glendenning takes calls at all hours of the night about problems in the area. Her Divisional Commander has repeatedly told her that she does not have to take calls after hours but she wants to be accessible to her community and these calls often become a source of information for the patrol members who are working during that shift. She takes complaints from people who would not call patrol to the scene and then forwards that information to the appropriate unit.
The following comment was noted on a Greystone resident’s Facebook page:
“If it wasn’t for Steph, I don’t think the playground or the new GTA committee would be there! Which I know isn’t her job! But hey, she’s done a lot for the community since she got there. Plus, a little birdie told me that she has been helping to organizing a community yard sale and has also helped keep the community food bank stay open. Remember this isn’t her job as a police officer, her role is to uphold the law and to keep the peace but she has gone above and beyond to help as many as she can in this community!! In her few years in Greystone she has helped volunteer her off time with community events and has taken a lot of her time to help as many as she possibly can”
One of the most impressive things about constable Glendenning’s involvement with this community is the fact that she does so much for them and at the same time balances her home life, she is the single mother of two boys. She includes her boys in the community events at Greystone, which allows her to attend, but also provides them with the opportunity to interact with youth who may have it harder than they do and to learn the value of helping others. This shows that constable Glendenning is fully integrated with the community. Most officers keep their own families separate from their work not wanting to expose their kids to “that side of the world”.
Constable Glendenning will be honoured at a formal luncheon during the IAWP’s 55th Annual Training Conference due to take place between 17th and 21st September 2017, in Cairns, Australia.
IAWP President Margaret Shorter, “For the past 100 years, IAWP has promoted the role of women in policing. IAWP champions change to enable women to play their full part in delivering an inclusive service to their local communities. Without our annual recognition programme many phenomenal women and men would go unrecognized for their efforts”.
The Mission of the I.A.W.P. is: To strengthen, unite and raise the capacity of women in policing internationally. The Vision: IAWP envisions a world where police reflect the diversity of the communities they serve and where human rights are protected.
For more information about I.A.W.P. visit www.iawp.org
For further information on the 2017 recognition programme or permissions please contact Jane Townsley, media@iawp.org