Correspondence from P. M. Williams Re: Obtain Support for an Amendment to the Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal Regulation

June 27, 2012

Honourable Mayor and Council:

I am writing to you to obtain support for an amendment to the Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal Regulation.

The Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal was created in 2004 by an Order in Council to recognize Peace Officers who have provided 20 years of Exemplary Service.

At present, however, the Chancellery of Honours Advisory Committee only accepts nominations for employees of a select group of five federal and four provincial organizations.

All other sworn Peace Officers throughout the nation remain excluded. Clearly, this does not appear to be in keeping with the intended purpose or spirit of such a medal.

In Ontario, seven Police Chiefs, twenty-two Police Services Boards and thirty-seven Mayors have already made submissions with regard to this matter.

In British Columbia, the exclusion prevents Special Provincial Constables, Special Municipal Constables, as well as Regional and Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Officers and Animal Control Officers from receiving any recognition for the valuable services that they provide.

To remedy this inequitable practice, I encourage you to forward a recommendation to the Chancellery of Honours to make all Peace Officers employed by provincial, regional and municipal governments equally eligible for this important honour. The address to forward your correspondence to is listed below.

The Chancellery of Honours Rideau Hall Ottawa, Ontario K1A OA1

For my records, it would be appreciated if you could also copy or notify me at the address or email above of any submissions made. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Philip M. Williams