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Winners and Nominees 2006

2006 Award Winners

The Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, is pleased to present the winner, runners-up, and nominees for the seventh annual Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award. This award recognizes excellence and innovation by police officers who, in dealing with youth who may come into conflict with the law, work to create a safer Canadian society.

The following factors were taken into account in selecting the winner and runners-up:

  1. Innovation and creativity in dealing with youth who have come into conflict with the law.
  2. The development and/or effective use of one or more of the following:
    • police discretion at the front end of the youth justice process;
    • conferencing as a means of assisting in decision making throughout one or more parts of the youth justice process;
    • community-based alternatives to the formal court process or custody; and
    • rehabilitation and reintegration of youths through positive police/youth activities.
  3. The accomplishment of one or more of the following goals:
    • fostering respect for societal values;
    • emphasizing responsibility to the victim and the community;
    • helping young people understand the impact of their actions;
    • enabling young persons to make the connection between the offence and its consequences;
    • encouraging the involvement of parents, families and the community in the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth;
    • assisting particularly disadvantaged groups or communities; and
    • increasing community involvement in the youth justice system.

For this year's award, 20 nominations were received from police services and individuals across Canada. This booklet celebrates the efforts of all the nominees, and informs others in the police and wider community about their exemplary achievements.

Winners

Certificate of Distinction:

Honourable Mentions:

Nominees (by Police Service, in alphabetical order)

NOMINEES

Constable Guy Roberts
Brandon Police Service

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Constable Guy Roberts was nominated for his work as the School Resource Officer for the city of Brandon, Manitoba.

In 2004, the Brandon Police Service undertook an initiative to promote a safer environment in schools by creating a School Resource Officer position in partnership with the Brandon School Division. Since that time, Cst. Guy Roberts has been spending time in three city high schools on a daily basis, connecting with students and working in co-operation with the school administration.

Both students and staff have voiced their appreciation for the positive benefit brought to their schools by the presence of Cst. Roberts. Statistical evidence shows that suspensions during the September to December period of 2005-compared to the same period of 2004-dropped from 165 suspensions to 147. In addition, suspensions for assault dropped in the same period from 72 incidences requiring suspension to 25. These drops are attributed to the mediation and information provided by Cst. Roberts in class room presentations promoting positive decision making.

By being a positive role model, effective mediator and valuable resource, Cst. Guy Roberts has brought a safer environment to the Brandon area schools and promoted a culture of respect for all of the community.

Contact:
Constable Constable Guy Roberts
(204) 729-2345

Detective Constable Paul Ladouceur
Brockville Police Service

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Detective Constable Paul Ladouceur was nominated for his dedication to seeking effective alternatives to deal with youth who come into conflict with the law.

In 2004, Det. Ladouceur helped co-ordinate the first ever Youth Forum in Brockville to identify the underlying causes of youth crime in the area. Held in partnership with 23 community partners and 13 sponsors, the forum attracted 106 youth who discussed various topics, including education, social options, and racism. The forum confirmed that youth who come into conflict with the law often need guidance, support and development of social skills.

Following the forum, Det. Ladouceur began researching community alternatives to the formal court system. A partnership was initiated between the Brockville Police Service and the RNJ Youth Services to administer the Rebound Program-a prevention and early intervention social skills program for pre- and post charge measures. Police officers have the discretion of referring offending youth to the program. Youth spend approximately three hours a week for a ten week period exploring topics such as decision making, goal setting, conflict resolution and anger management.

The focus of the Det. Ladouceur's work is to increase the healthy development of young people by addressing youth issues, through mentors, role models and supportive adults.

Contact:
Detective Constable Paul Ladouceur
(613) 342-0127

Staff Sergeant Doublas de Grood
Calgary Police Service

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Staff Sergeant Douglas de Grood was nominated for his work in the development and implementation of the Gateway Initiative.

The initiative's intent is to encourage responsibility and to build positive relationships between youth and the community. When a youth commits a chargeable, non-violent offence, the police officer may use his/her discretion to not charge the youth but, rather, to offer the youth the option of participating in the Gateway Initiative. To do so, the youth must accept responsibility. If the youth opts to participate, the officer submits a youth report package to the initiative's program coordinator to begin the process.

Following the referral, a meeting is held with the young person, his or her parents or guardians and the program coordinator to assess the underlying causes of the behaviour, to help the young person understand the impact of their actions, and to recommend an appropriate community program.

The Gateway Initiative has a positive impact on the youth involved as it provides them with an opportunity to reassess their choices in life before they become fully involved with the criminal justice system.

Contact:
S/Sgt. Douglas de Grood
(403) 206-8399

Constable Terry Sansregret
Delta Police Department

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Cst. Terry Sansregret was nominated for developing and directing the Choices program which is designed to teach leadership skills to youth between the ages of 11 and 13.

Inspired by the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" written by Sean Covey, the Choices program teaches young people leadership skills that allow them to make positive choices over the course of their school years and beyond.

After being selected by their school principle and put through a short application process, the students meet with police members and volunteers at a local gymnasium one night a week for four months. At each meeting, youth are expected to present their thoughts and opinions about social issues, values, principles and current events.

An important component of the Choices program is the role modeling and mentoring provided by the carefully chosen instructors and guest speakers. In addition, youth who participate in the program are invited back the following year to become mentors to the new participating students.

Students, principals and parents have all commended Cst. Sansregret and the Delta Police Department for creating such an effective program that reaches youth at an early age. In June, 2006, Cst. Sansregret will also be receiving a Police Board Commendation on his contribution to the Choices Program.

Contact:
Cst. Terry Sansregert
(604) 599-7280

Internet Crime Initiative
Josée Laflamme - Sûreté du Québec
Mario Thiboutot - Sûreté Municipal St.-Georges
François Bisson - Sûreté Municipal Lévis
Sara Coup-Fabiano - Sûreté Municipal Québec
Yves Simoneau - Sûreté Municipal Thetford Mines

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These police officers were nominated for their work with an initiative to fight internet crime. Their slogan is: " Vous NET pas seul, ensemble prévenons les crimes sur le net." ["You are not alone on the NET: Together we can beat Internet crime"]

With the rise of Internet availability, the above police forces were experiencing an increase in the number of victims of Internet-related crimes and an increase in on-line criminal activity. A prevention program for police and the community was needed.

A committee was created to equip officers with the tools they needed to prevent and combat Internet crime. The committee worked to develop resources that would raise awareness among students on the dangers of inappropriate Internet use and inform parents, school and community workers on the potential risk of unsupervised Internet use and the steps to take when victimized.

Starting in the fall of 2005, the representatives began delivering presentations to area schools and holding evening meetings for parents and other community members. Promotional materials such as a DVD and pamphlets were distributed to reach youth and to address the legal consequences of inappropriate use of the Internet and the social consequences of bullying and harassment.

Contacts:

  • Josée Laflamme - (418) 623-6226
  • Mario Thiboutot - (418) 228-5510
  • François Bisson - (418) 835-4960 ext. 5907
  • Sara Coup-Fabiano - (418) 641-6391
  • Yves Simoneau - (418) 338-3623

Detective Constable Nadine Wallace
Niagara Regional Police Service

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Detective Constable Nadine Wallace was nominated for her work with the Niagara Regional Police Extrajudicial Measures Referral Program which was developed and implemented in 2005.

As the Youth Justice Coordinator, D/Cst. Wallace was tasked with developing a process to assist fellow police officers with extrajudicial referrals for youth. A partnership was initially established with Contact Niagara, a community agency that had the necessary infrastructure and evaluation process in place to assist the program.

The process developed by D/Cst. Wallace involves the investigation officer submitting a recommendation that an extrajudicial measure be used to deal with the youth to the Youth Justice Coordinator. Once reviewed, the coordinator then processes the information and forwards it to Contact Niagara which completes the intake and refers the youth to the most appropriate community program. Youth have been referred to a variety of programs, including victim awareness programs, STOP (Sexual Treatment Outpatient Program), and TAP C (for fire starting behaviours).

D/Cst. Wallace was instrumental in the successful implementation of the referral program and continues to oversee the entire process, both internally as well as externally, to ensure its success.

Contact:
D/Cst. Nadine Wallace
(905) 688-4111 ext 5177

Staff Sergeant Shamus Hall
Ottawa Police Services,

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Staff Sergeant Shamus Hall of the Ottawa Police Services was nominated for his work with the Ottawa Community Youth Diversion Program (OCYDP), which was officially launched on April 3, 2006 following a year of development and planning.

The program is run in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa and is designed to provide alternatives to the formal justice system by referring youth to community-based programs. Community partners are engaged in the delivery of counseling and intervention for the youth and their family.

Staff Sergeant Shamus Hall's leadership in the development of the diversion-based program was vital to its implementation. He was innovative in bringing many diverse community partners together to provide a united approach to helping young people in conflict with the law. Staff Sergeant Hall also engaged University professionals and members of the health community to ensure a well-rounded, complete program.

Contact:
Staff Sergeant Shamus Hall
(613) 236-1222

Peel Regional Police, Neighbourhood Policing Unit
Inspector Barry Dolan
Staff Sergeant Mark Armstrong
Staff Sergeant Kenneth Delaney
Staff Sergeant Richard DeFacendis
Staff Sergeant Robert MacLachlan
Sergeant Richard Lamarre
Sergeant Taufic Saliba

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The Peel Regional Police Neighbourhood Policing Unit was nominated for its work with the Youth Intervention and Monitoring Program (IMP).

The IMP is designed to engage police partners in taking a multi-disciplinary approach to responding to high-risk youth, with the primary goal being the prevention of criminal activity.

Once a youth is identified, officers involved in the program initiate contact with the youth, parent(s) or guardian(s), as well as any involved agencies to review the conditions of the youth's release or sentencing, The assigned officer then provides guidance, support and, as necessary, refers the parent or guardian to Coordinated Information Peel, a central help line agency that analyzes a caller's needs to refer them to a specific agency for further assistance.

By working with the youth and their families, the Peel Neighbourhood Policing Unit has provided a positive influence on a number of the youth involved in the program, prompting them to reassess their options and abandon criminal activity outright.

Contact:
Peel Regional Police, Neighbourhood Policing Unit
(905) 453-3311

RCMP "M" Division - Whitehorse Detachment
Constable Eyvi Smith
Constable Jeff Monkman
Constable Marc Gabriel
Auxiliary Constable Rick Smith

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The RCMP "M" Division-Whitehorse Detachment members were nominated for their work with the RCMP Young Riders and Crew Whitewater Program.

The program provides socially and economically disadvantaged youth with opportunities to participate in recreational sports such as skiing, snowboarding, kayaking and whitewater rafting-while interacting positively with police officers. Youth are provided with all the necessary equipment, passes and instruction to participate fully in the program. The program targets youth between the ages of 10 and 18 who are referred by local group homes, behavioral or alternative classrooms, as well as territorial government child abuse and treatment centers. All police officers involved volunteer their time to act as positive role models and mentors.

As activities are offered year-round, the program easily attracts and engages youth with varied interests. In 2005-2006, approximately 349 youth participated in the Young Riders component and another 32 youth participated in the Crew Whitewater component.

Through the program, youth are able to develop their self-confidence and self-esteem by facing individual and group challenges. The program also serves to rehabilitate and reintegrate youth already in conflict with the law by providing them with positive role models and mentorship opportunities with the volunteering police officers.

Contact:
RCMP "M" Division - Whitehorse Detachment
(867) 667-5555

Constable Eugene Belliveau
Rothesay Regional Police Force

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Constable Eugene Belliveau of the Rothesay Regional Police Force was nominated for his multi-pronged approach to youth justice issues.

Following a career as a professional football player in the Canadian Football League, Cst. Belliveau joined the Calgary Police Service and worked as a District Youth Detail Officer, a youth education and intervention officer and a school resource officer. Since joining the Rothesay Regional Police in 2004, he has continued his dedication to youth, particularly to those involved with the justice system. In Rothesay, he has worked with youth justice in different capacities and has sat on the board of directors a number of organizations, including Restorative Justice New Brunswick.

Cst. Belliveau has also delivered numerous talks to students on drug and alcohol abuse and developed a Police Literacy Program for elementary school students. He has also mentored numerous at-risk youth at the request of other officers, teachers and parents.

Through out his careers, Cst. Belliveau has been a firm believer in the effectiveness and validity of alternative methods of dealing with youth. His various approaches support front-end police discretion, conferencing, community-based alternatives to the formal justice system and the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth. He has devoted a good portion of his life to youth and continues to provide support to at-risk individuals in the community.

Contact:
Constable Eugene Belliveau
(506) 847-6300

Saskatchewan Police Cautioning Program
Corporal John Walker, Regina Police Services
Sergeant Doug Coleman, RCMP "F" Division

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Detective Corporal John Walker and Sergeant Doug Coleman were nominated for their work in developing the Saskatchewan Police Cautioning Program.

The Police Cautioning Program provides an innovative approach for police to deal with the criminal behaviour of youth where the circumstances are too severe for a warning but do not fit the parameters of extrajudicial sanctions. The program involves a formal process in which a police officer meets with the youth and their parent(s) or caregiver(s) to discuss the illegal conduct and how the conduct affected others. A caution form is first completed and reviewed with the young person. The process encourages the young person to consider the consequences of their actions.

Guidelines for the program were developed regarding the type of offences and offenders that would be most suitable for a police caution. A training program also started in March 2006 for officers and community members to ensure understanding of the program and consistency in applying its policies.

Contacts:

  • Cpl. John Walker
  • (306)777-6500
  • Sgt. Doug Coleman
  • (306) 975-5184

Constable Trevor Martin
Summerside Police Services

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Constable Trevor Martin was nominated for his work with the Eclipse Program which ran from January 30 to April 20, 2006.

The school-based program originated in Ottawa, Ontario and is designed to reach at-risk youth through two components: a group component and a judo component. Cst. Martin researched the Ottawa model and saw an opportunity to use his skills as a police officer and a member of the Judo community to engage youth. The program also involved the participation of a Youth Outreach Worker, a Community Outreach Worker and a Judo Black Belt.

Through the group component, participants engaged in discussions to explore core beliefs and other factors that influence their path in life. The discussions dealt with topics such as peer group dynamics and bullying. The judo component provided an opportunity to teach the youth about judo techniques and philosophies. Cst. Martin was able to talk with the youth about self-discipline and self-awareness, as well as respect for others and their limits. The judo sessions also allowed the youth to see first-hand how their actions directly affect others.

Cst. Martin enjoyed the chance to use his skills to build relationships with youth in the community through the Eclipse Program.

Contact:
Cst. Trevor Martin
(902) 432-1201

Sergeant Bill Russell
Toronto Police Service

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Sergeant Bill Russell has been nominated for his work with the Toronto Police Service Recreational Outreach Out-tripping Program (TROOP) that allows police officers, agency workers and at-risk youth to participate in a series of camping trips in Central and Northern Ontario.

The program is a sustainable outreach program that involves multiple partners and produces measurable outcomes for youth including changes in attitudes, certification training in canoeing, awards and further experience.

A selection committee works with the community members and organizations to identify youth for the program. One adult representative from each organization also accompanies each youth on the trips. This ensures that there is support to handle the needs of the different youth and serves to breakdown barriers between the youth and the professionals that they deal with on a daily basis.

Teamwork and cooperation are a vital part of any wilderness experience, and the youth learn to support and care for others through the experience. Following the trip, there are opportunities for apprenticeships, further leadership training and job opportunities with Toronto Parks Forestry and Recreation.

Sgt. Russell started the TROOP program in Toronto's west end and has since brought the program to the entire city. He has continuously demonstrated his commitment to nurturing leadership qualities in youth and continues to participate on trips.

Contact:
Sergeant Bill Russell
(416) 808-7030

Leadership Team of the 22 Division Police Rover Crew, Toronto Police Service
Inspector Len Faul
Kevin Birdsall
Detective Sergeant Steve Duggan
Staff Sergeant Joe Perino
Brigitte Faul

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The Leadership Team of the 22 Division Police Rover Crew was nominated for its work in a joint venture between the Toronto Police Service and Scouts Canada to establish Venturer and Rover Crews.

Venturer and Rover Crews consist of students taking courses at community colleges within Toronto who work closely with police officers who volunteer their time to become "leaders" of the various crews. The program highlights the "Crew values" of honesty, teamwork, fun and respect. These values are important as the Crew also volunteers to work directly with programs that deal with youth that have or are at risk of coming into conflict with the law.

The Crew program supports the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth through positive activities. Young Crew members work alongside police officers with youth in the community and are able to offer them positive, tangible and realistic alternatives to criminal activities.

The leadership provided by the Toronto Police Service officers is vital to the continuation of the Venturer and Rover crews. As the work is voluntary, it requires considerable commitment in time and energy, and a genuine heartfelt belief that the program makes communities safer and stronger.

Contact:
Insp. Faul
(416) 808-1913

Vancouver Police Department Youth Services Unit
Detective Brent Haines
Detective Ciaran Feenan
Detective Doug Spencer
Detective Adam Dhaliwal
Detective Glenn Thomson
Detective Mary Mah
Detective Lindsey Houghton
Detective Bill Demiris
Detective Desiree Luebkemann
Detective David Marsh
Detective Greg Griffiths
Detective Jack Sullivan
Detective Elvis Bellia
Detective Mario Giardini
Inspector John De Haas

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The Vancouver Police Department Youth Services Unit (YSU) was nominated for its work in education and partnership building.

The individual members of the YSU have developed educational presentations for a variety of audiences. Presentations have been given to police recruits and newly hired police members to ensure proper understanding and application of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Internal training to fellow officers has also been developed and provided by the unit on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in recognition that over 60% of sufferers of FASD are expected to come into contact with the justice system. The YSU members also provide presentations to teachers, students, school administrators and others on gangs, providing information on the signs that someone is at risk of being recruited by a gang.

In addition to education initiatives, the YSU has worked extensively in building up partnerships in the community. The unit has negotiated a number of agreements with various community agencies to deliver conferencing resources, community referrals and other alternative measures. Many of the unit's members have also participated on the Aboriginal Steering Committee to ensure that appropriate programs are being offered to Aboriginal youth who come into conflict with the law.

Contact:
Vancouver Police Department Youth Services Unit
(604) 717-3146

Detective Sergeant Rich Lemire
Winnipeg Police Service

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Detective Sergeant Rich Lemire was nominated for his work as a Community Police Officer assigned to General Wolfe and Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Schools.

As a Community Police Officer, D/Sgt. Lemire's approach was to first meet with school administrators and take an inventory of the current issues and needs. He then focused on devising a simple system for information sharing between the two schools and the police. The plan would allow for a greater police presence as well as support to provide youth with advice and options concerning alternative education programs, anger management programs, restitution and behavior plans.

In addition to meeting with parent councils and community groups to discuss safety concerns in the community, D/Sgt. Lemire met one-on-one with students who were already in conflict with the law. He wanted to ensure that these students knew that they were being supported and could approach him to talk. When faced with an offence, he exercised discretion and sought alternatives to charges.

D/Sgt. Lemire brought a multi-faceted approach to policing youth. He looked for alternatives to arrest, employed conferencing as a means of finding the appropriate solution, and supported rehabilitation efforts. He fostered respect for the community and helped youth to understand the long-term consequences of their decisions.

Contact:
D/Sgt. Rich Lemire
(204) 984-4788

Date Modified: 2011-12-05

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