It goes as no surprise that police officers are a vital part of any city, including Prince George and yesterday (Jan. 31), some members from the Prince George RCMP detachment were recognized for their efforts during 2018.
Prince George Crime Stoppers Vice President Ron Polillo was at the Prince George RCMP Detachment to announce the recipients and present their awards.
Specifically, two officers and one watch team were honoured during the ceremony, with this year marking the seventh annual presentation.
Cst. Mike Mikkelsen and Cst. Dave Hallmark were named co-officers of the year.
Mikkelsen is currently in his 11th year after graduating from the RCMP Training Academy in Regina back in 2008. He spent his first three years in Fraser Lake before accepting a transfer to Prince George in 2011.
He has worked in General Duty where he responds to public calls his whole career but is currently in the process of joining the Prince George RCMP Forensic Identification Section.
Cst. Dave Hallmark has been a member of the RCMP for close to eight years, with the past three being in Prince George. Before his arrival here, he was posted in Castlegar, B.C. He spent the last eight years in the Detachment's Traffic Services section.
"When people think about Crime Stoppers, they don't necessarily think about the traffic section," Hallmark says. "However, with the tips we've received, we have been able to catch both impaired and prohibited drivers in our community. This makes our roads safer. I would like to encourage the public to continue to send information to Crime Stoppers about impaired drivers, individuals driving without a valid licence, prohibited drivers, people driving without insurance, and dangerous drivers. Names and licence plates are a big help."
As for General Duty Watch of the Year, the award was given to the Traffic Services Section. Sgt. Matthew LaBelle is the supervisor in charge of the Detachment's Traffic Section.
Prince George Crime Stoppers says the team has actively sought after information from the public through Crime Stoppers to seek out persons that are actively driving when they should not be.
"It is an honour for the Municipal Traffic Section to be recognized as the Crime Stopper Watch of the Year," Sgt. Matthew LaBelle says. "Municipal Traffic makes every effort to enforce the Motor Vehicle Act and Criminal Code of Canada at locations where we believe have the most impact on road safety, but we can't be at all places at all times. This is where we rely upon the community as our partners in road safety, who stand up and let us know where there are issues. The Crime Stoppers Program is an excellent alternative for those who want to remain anonymous, but cannot let criminal behaviour continue. If you know of someone who is regularly driving while impaired, or driving with a suspended or prohibited license, call Crime Stoppers! We don't need your name, just your information. We will make efforts to apprehend this person and increase road safety."
If you ever need to submit a tip to Crime Stoppers Prince George, you can do so anonymously 24/7, 365 days a year by calling 1-800-222-8477 or send a typed tip via web at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.
