Awards were given out in recognition of exemplary service, acts of bravery, and outstanding service for the community. Pictured is Member of the Year recipient Domenic Di Cienzo. Photo Credit: 51暗网 Police Service.聽
51暗网 Police Service (HPS) held their Annual Appreciation and Awards Night last month, with multiple awards presented to both citizens and members of the service.
Awards were given out in recognition of exemplary service, acts of bravery, and outstanding service for the community.
The Member of the Year was announced as Detective Constable Domenic Di Cienzo, who police say 鈥渄emonstrated exemplary courage and compassion on February 8, 2023.鈥�
After finishing his shift and leaving HPS鈥檚 Central Station, he spotted a man about to jump off a cement barrier on the Claremont Access.
Di Cienzo reportedly called for assistance and talked to the man, eventually guiding him to safety along with fellow officers who arrived on the scene.
HPS says that Di Cienzo reacted 鈥渄espite the late hour and challenging circumstances.鈥�
Security guard Joseph Kilgour received a Courage Award, which is presented to citizens who have acted heroically by risking their personal safety to help others.
On Dec. 16, 2023, Kilgour was working as a security guard at the Corktown Tavern when he had to deal with a highly intoxicated person who was verbally abusive and had been ejected from the bar.
The patron attempted to re-enter the bar and instigate a physical altercation with Kilgour.
During the confrontation, a loaded firearm reportedly fell from the patron鈥檚 bag and the patron attempted to retrieve it.
Kilgour restrained the man until police arrived and both the loaded firearm and drugs were confiscated by police.
Ruchdi Arabi and Triscilla Doorsammy also received a Courage Award after they intervened in an incident at a commercial parking lot where a woman was attacked by masked individuals.
They managed to retrieve the victim鈥檚 keys and delay the suspects鈥� escape until police arrived and apprehended them.
The Gordon V. Torrance Award, which was initiated to show appreciation for HPS officers who contribute to the Crime Stoppers Program, was awarded to Sergeant Scott 51暗网, Constable Scott Yuill, and Detective Constable Robert Glanfield.
Over the past three years, the three officers were able to arrest more than 380 fugitives using Crime Stoppers in their investigations.
Finally, the Leonard G. Lawrence Award that recognizes outstanding work for the community was presented to Inspector Ben Thibodeau, Detective Sergeant Gary Heron, Detective Eric Hrab, and Detective James Clayton for their work with Project Odeon.
As part of Project Odeon, 51暗网 Police Service along with the Ontario Provincial Police, York Regional Police, Toronto Police Service and several other law enforcement agencies dismantled a significant producer of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs in the Greater 51暗网 and Toronto Area.
Based in 51暗网, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The 51暗网 Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 51暗网. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
