FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, October 9, 2015
(Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jskkcsxht84t3e9/AACHbx_BMg-P6Px3Fp5RVed9a?dl=0) Winners Announced-2015 Surrey Police Officer of the Year Awards - Police Officer of the Year Winner, Nominated by Community: Inspector Ghalib Bhayani
The Surrey Board of Trade’s 19th Annual Police Officer of the Year Awards was held on Thursday, October 8, at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel. The presenting sponsors were the BC Lottery Corporation and Commissionaires BC, with media sponsor the Now Newspaper.
“Congratulations to all the deserving recipients of this year’s Police Officer of the Year Awards,” says Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman. “This ceremony celebrates not only the efforts of the police, but all those who have taken innovative steps towards making Surrey a safer place to live and do business.”
Dressed in red serge uniforms, many members along with Surrey’s Auxiliary officers, civilian employees and volunteers joined members of Surrey’s business community to celebrate those chosen by their peers and the public as those most worthy to receive the two Police Officer of the Year awards, as well as awards for top Auxiliary Officer, most deserving municipal employee working with the police service, top volunteer and business partner. Master of Ceremonies Jesse Johnston, CBC reporter, kept the evening going with lots of laughs while keynote speaker author Heidi Cave gave an inspiring speech about hope, optimism, and courage in the face of tragedy.
The 400-person gathering was addressed by Chief Superintendent Bill Fordy, Officer in Charge of the Surrey Detachment; Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner; and Heidi Cave, keynote speaker, author of Fancy Feet: Turning My Tragedy Into Hope. The Surrey RCMP Detachment, the largest in Canada and second largest municipal force in BC, has over 650 officers and hundreds of support staff.
The winners were judged in the areas of: innovation, commitment, contribution and perseverance. Partial proceeds from the event go towards the RCMP Youth Academy.
2015 Police Officer of the Year Awards Winners: (full descriptions are noted below):
Police Officer of the Year - Nominated by Community: Inspector Ghalib Bhayani
Police Officer of the Year - Nominated by Peers : Sergeant Michael Sanchez
Volunteer of the Year: Roger Reid
Auxiliary Constable of the Year: Auxiliary Constable Ken Merrells
Arnold Silzer Community Policing Initiative Award : The partnership of Constable Ryan Camping, District 1 Transit Liason Officer, and Constable Carl Garlinski, District 1 Neighbourhood Liaison Officer
Police & Business Partnership Award: Surrey Crime Prevention Society
Municipal Employee of the Year : Marnie Neal
Police Team Award: Crime Reduction Unit South Team
(FULL WINNER DESCRIPTIONS BELOW) Police Officer of the Year – Nominated by Community
Inspector Ghalib Bhayani Inspector Ghalib Bhayani is well known for his dedication, personality, strong work ethic and role model skills within his detachment and in Surrey. Inspector Bhayani has lead the detachment’s first ever compressive Community Mobilization process which to date has resulted in a total of 10 outreach sessions and five more planned for the Fall of 2015. What has made this event unique is that each forum has featured a leader within the RCMP speaking to residents on specific issues affecting each specific neighbourhood. Inspector Bhayani speaks four languages, holds a Doctorate Degree, and teaches part-time at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Ghalib has worked tirelessly and on his own time to fulfill his role as a leader in the community. Inspector Bhayani has inspired the detachment and Surrey.
Police Officer of the Year – Nominated by Peers
Sergeant Michael Sanchez Sgt. Michael Sanchez is the A Watch Senior NCO in District 1 (City Centre), supervising 2 Corporals and 17 Constables. Over the past year Sgt. Sanchez has distinguished himself through his innovative and collaborative approach to providing highly effective reactive and proactive policing in the City Centre area of Surrey. Sgt. Sanchez has developed and overseen several initiatives, including the development of a collaborative program with Surrey Community Corrections to monitor individuals who are currently on probation and living in Surrey, to the implementation of highly visible proactive patrols as part of the core duties of first responders in City Centre. Sgt. Sanchez’s success is driven by who he is as a person. He cares deeply about his team and about Surrey. His success and innovations come on top of his full-time role as a frontline supervisor on general duty. Working on his team is one of the most sought after spots on the A Watch.
Volunteer of the Year Roger Reid Roger Reid is a volunteer with Cloverdale/Port Kells District 4, and participates every chance he gets. He has involved himself with the Speed Watch Team, volunteering on a weekly basis, encouraging and mentoring young volunteers, as well as signing up for many activities. Roger has participated in conducting Lock Out Auto Crime audits, Distracted Driving campaign, and has taken it upon himself to train the young volunteers in the same programs who have recently come on board. Roger has also participates in various special events such as the annual Pack the PC event. That event alone has raised thousands of dollars for the Cloverdale Christmas Hamper program and Surrey Food Bank. Roger also assists at the local Shred-a-Thons, and participates in the Think of Me project, lending much needed assistance to the members who stop those speeding within school zones. Roger naturally encourages others to participate. When one makes a request of Roger, he is quick to assist and always ensures he gets the job done.
Auxiliary Constable of the Year Auxiliary Constable Ken Merrells Ken Merrells has been volunteering as an Auxiliary Constable for 8 years. Ken is always happy to volunteer whether it’s helping people at the front counter or assisting Regular Members on files. He is always on time and ready to work, helping members from the public who have come in to report minor nuisance behavior. Instead of going though regular channels, Ken works with the Station Constable to take charge of the situation and resolve the problem on the spot. Ken brings an extensive background of First Aid as a First Aid Examiner with St. John’s Ambulance. He is always ready to help clients who show up at the front counter requiring medical attention. Ken Merrells exemplifies everything that the Auxiliary Constable program stands for and is a shining example to other Auxiliary Constable’s in Surrey.
Arnold Silzer Community Policing Initiative Award Constable Carl Garlinski District 1 Neighbourhood Liaison Officer and Constable Ryan Camping, District 1 Transit Liaison Officer Brought together by the Surrey RCMP and Transit Police agencies to collaboratively reduce crime in Surrey Central, Constable Carl Garlinski and Constable Ryan Camping have dramatically enhanced police presence and public safety in Surrey Central. The joint project has been a success at reducing crime at Surrey Central, and has enhanced police presence and public safety in the area. The partnership has been key in building a bridge of cooperation and collaboration between the two policing agencies resulting in a more effective environment in and around Surrey Central. As a direct result of Constable Camping’s and Constable Garlinski’s efforts, weekly initiatives and community engagement, the criminal element no longer engage Surrey Central anonymously. By removing their anonymity, most have chosen to leave Surrey Central of their own accord. Constables Camping and Garlinski remain committed to the positive outcomes made between the business community, commuters, and police. Police and Business Partnership Award Surrey Crime Prevention Society Surrey Crime Prevention Society (SCPS) enhances community safety in Surrey. The Society continues to expand its programs to ensure it meets the needs of the communities. Over the past two years, SCPS has been instrumental in supporting special projects from the RCMP, ICBC and the City of Surrey in Port Kells, Whalley, Panorama Ridge, and Newton. In the past year, SCPS introduced a partnership with Transit Police to assist them with issues relating to the transit system. SCPS introduced additional volunteer resources to observe and report through the Citizen Community Safety Watch program, Community Safety Tours and through the Traffic Safety Program supporting special projects related to Locking Out Auto Crime and Project Swoop. As a result of this collaborative approach there has been a significant reduction in criminal activity in Port Kells and Whalley. SCPS currently has over 300 volunteers supporting the enhancement of community safety in Surrey, 80% of whom are youth who live and attend high school and post-secondary institutions. SCPS volunteers have contributed 28,000 hours to community safety in Surrey.
Municipal Employee of the Year Award Marnie Neal Marnie started her career with the Surrey RCMP Detachment as a volunteer in Victim Services in 2004, and was hired as a full-time caseworker in 2008. As a Victims Services caseworker, Marnie assists individuals through some of the most difficult and challenging times of their lives. Marnie is called to assist individuals in extremely stressful and trying circumstances such as domestic abuse and violence, elder abuse, sudden deaths, next of kin notifications, break and enters, robberies, sexual assaults, missing persons and attempted suicide situations. Her commitment, innovation, and willingness to improve not only her place of work, but her community, is commendable. Many of Marnie’s cases require years of support, and she often plays a critical role in those cases, going above and beyond and stepping up when needed. Marnie’s innovation, shown through her role in bringing a trauma dog to the Surrey Detachment, as well as her creation of a Bereavement Guide and a Trauma & Critical Incident Response Guide, is one of the reasons she is successful in her position.
Police Team Award Crime Reduction Unit – South Team Over the past 2 years the Crime Reduction Unit South (CRU-South) has successfully built a strong working relationship with Surrey citizens. Through that relationship they have been able to identify, target and eliminate high-risk locations, problem properties and remove active criminals throughout Surrey. With patience and dedication, CRU-South works diligently to obtain the information needed from the public to dismantle illegal activities taking place on or around certain locations. On occasions they were able to obtain judicial authorization and remove occupants; other times they worked closely with landlords to evict the criminals in Surrey. Their impact can easily be seen throughout Surrey by the number of demolished and boarded up problem residences that have shut down over the past year. Their drive, dedication and commitment to Surrey citizens and to public safety are commendable. CRU-South has enhanced communication between the police and the community. From their inception, the team has had a significant impact in dealing with crime and criminals, reinstating a sense of security to many Surrey residents.