The 16th annual Police Officer of the Year Awards is taking place tonight ( Thursday, Oct. 18).
The Surrey Board of Trade (SBOT)-hosted event will be held from 6-9:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford at 15269 104 Ave.
The keynote speaker will be Richard Rosenthal, the Chief Civilian Director of the B.C. Independent Investigations Office.
Rosenthal will speak about the responsibility and role of his office, the role of the RCMP and his findings in his other offices such as Portland.
The shortlist of winners has been released. They include (in no particular order):
• Arnold Silzer Community Policing Initiative Award: Anti Bullying Day Film Contest Project Team, S/Cont. Susan Caley and the Wire Theft Team.
• Police Team: Constables Jessica Andrew, Derek Bonner and Johanna Robinson; Child Abuse and Sexual Offense Unit; Surrey Traffic Services Criminal Crash Investigation Team.
• Police and Business Partnership Award: Constables Julie Bion, Johanna Robinson and Surrey Auxiliary Program, Crime Prevention and Surrey School District; Ken Hutchinson and City of Surrey Engineering Team; Trademark Group, Jen Temple and Hillcrest Village.
• Municipal Employee Award: Brian Aasebo; Amy Ghag and Rosalinda Mulldoon.
• Volunteer of the Year: Brian Dawson; Cheryl Gardner; Merril Turpin.
• Auxiliary Constable of the Year: Ken Merrells; Zynal Sharoom; Lelan Sheldan.
• Police Officer of the Year (Nominated by peers): Staff-Sgt. Scott Campbell; Const. Mark Levesque; Const. Tad Milmine.
• Police Officer of the Year (Nominated by the community): Staff-Sgt. Scott Campbell; CSO Amar Gill; Staff-Sgt. Dean Scott.
To book tickets, call Heather at the Surrey Board of Trade at 604-581-7130.
A listing of the winners will be posted on www.surreyleader.com after the event.