The Delta Police Department recently recognized a few of its own, as well as some members of the community, at its annual awards ceremony.
The awards were handed out Feb. 15 at Genesis Theatre in Ladner.
The Deputy Chief Constable Award, which recognizes significant performance beyond a job well done, was given to three groups:
. The Panghali homicide investigation team, which included almost 30 officers and civilians, was commended for its investigation into the death of Surrey mother Manjit Panghali, whose body was found on the rocky shoreline along Deltaport Way in October 2006. Panghali's husband, Mukhtiar Panghali, was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
. Project Fastcat, a team of 12 officers, including one from Vancouver police and one from the RCMP, targeted a group trafficking cocaine, marijuana and other contraband. The investigation culminated in four people being convicted as well as the recovery of a large quantity of drugs and firearms.
. Project Angel was the four-month undercover operation used during the investigation that led to a conviction in the 2008 crash that killed four-yearold Alexa Middelaer and injured her aunt. In 2010, Carol Berner was convicted of impaired driving causing death and bodily harm and dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm, and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail. She is out on appeal.
Four citizens and one officer were given a Police Board Commendation, which is handed out for an outstanding meritorious act of police duty, or a distinguished contribution to the administration of operations of the police department.
. Noah Chimich, 14, was commended for his quick thinking. On Jan. 31, Chimich was on a bus travelling along Highway 17 when he thought he saw a body in the ditch. Const. Craig Baltzer quickly located a very large man who had become stuck in the mud. Baltzer managed to get the man, who was incoherent and hypothermic, out of the ditch and keep him warm until paramedics arrived.
. North Delta teens Ashley Burwash and Jennifer Luu were recognized for their efforts to help a man after seeing him unconscious and not breathing. The man had suffered a heart attack while walking his dog. The two students called 911 and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Unfortunately he fell into a coma and died several days later.
. Jill Colley received a commendation for her outstanding contribution and commitment to the DOVE (Delta Opposes Violence Everywhere) Committee. In 2001, the Delta police victim services program joined with a multitude of other local service providers to initiate a committee with a focus on all relationship violence instead of just domestic violence.
Chief Constable Awards are given to those who have carried out an act of exceptional courage or risk to personal safety. Three officers received the award this year:
. Const. Ben Whitehead was commended for his quick action in rescuing a woman who was trapped in her vehicle, which had landed in a water-filled ditch. Whitehead had just been recruited by the department and was waiting for his training to begin.
. Const. Aaron Hill was hailed for his life-saving efforts to resuscitate a choking toddler. Early last year, a young couple was driving through North Delta when their 18-month-old son started choking on a candy. The couple got out of the car to try and help their son. Hill, who was offduty at the time, saw what was happening and stopped to help.
. Const. Jim Ingram was recognized for helping a man with a severed artery. Last June, Ingram responded to a possible domestic dispute on Tsawwassen Drive when he found a man bleeding heavily and starting to go into shock. He directed a second man to apply pressure on the wound while retrieving a tourniquet, stemming the bleeding and helping save the man's life.
Several officers received exemplary service awards. Const. Scott Annesley, S/Sgt. Scott Lebus, S/Sgt. Connie Kyle and S/Sgt. Kelly Young all received 20-year medals. Retired Const. Rick Farina and constables Shane Parker and Frank Querido received 30year medals.
jkerr@delta-optimist.com
