The recent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) West Region Awards Ceremony saw several members from the Huron OPP Detachment along with community members from the area receive awards.
Individuals were honoured for their years of exemplary service, selfless actions, dedication to community service and lifesaving actions.
Goderich teen Trent Buchanan was honoured for his selfless actions when he came across a car on fire in Goderich in 2018. He immediately ran to the home and alerted the occupants of the fire and also ran home to retrieve a fire extinguisher.
Huron OPP Auxiliary Sergeant Wayne McConnell and Sergeant Patrick Armstrong were awarded a Commissioner's Citation for Lifesaving for their actions on June 10, 2018. Three men were rescued from Lake Huron when their sailboat capsized. Staff Sergeant Dave Sinko, Sergeant Russ Nesbitt, Provincial Constable Brandon Nunney, Provincial Constable Shuhei Kaneko, and Provincial Constable Jamie Stanley, along with Goderich Fire Department Firefighters Darren Doak, Darryl Boyer, Jason Austin, Matt VandenHeuval, Wes Gozzard and civilian Graham Adams received Commissioner's Citations Lifesaving for saving a suicidal person atop the Menesetung Bridge in December of 2018. Detective Constables Christine Martin and Heather MacRae received Commissioner's Citations for Exemplary Performance of Duty involving an infant death investigation from December 2017.
Sergeant Russ Nesbitt received a Commissioner's Commendation for his 20 plus years of outstanding community service with the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics.
Retired Sergeant Dale Bray received his bar for 30 years of service, for the Police Exemplary Service Medal.
Detective Constable Heather MacRae and Provincial Constable Juanita Draper received a 25-year Quarter Century Club pin for their exemplary service.
Provincial Constable Craig Soldan received a Police Exemplary Service medal for 20 years of service.
On September 19, 2019, OPP members and civilians travelled to the Ontario Police College (OPC) outside of Aylmer for the awards ceremony.
The West Region OPP Awards Ceremony is held on an annual basis to recognize extra-ordinary acts and extraordinary people.