Abbotsford Police Sgt. Mike Novakowski will receive the third Meritorious Service Award of his career in November during Police Honours Night in Victoria.
Novakowski is best known as the creator of the Abbotsford Police Department's "Operation" series of programs aimed at steering kids away from the gang lifestyle. These programs include Operation Tarnish, Operation Veritas and Operation Acorn.
Novakowski, 44, has been a police officer in Abbotsford since 1989 and previously received the provincial Meritorious Service Award in 1997 and 2008.
The award recognizes officers "who clearly demonstrated that they acted in a manner significantly beyond the standard normally expected."
Officers across B.C. are honoured annually at the Police Honours banquet with Awards of Valour and the Meritorious Service Award. This year's ceremony takes place Nov. 17.
The honourees are selected by a committee composed of representatives from the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
Novakowski was also officially presented at this week's Abbotsford Police Board meeting with the 2010 Abbotsford Policing Award for Outstanding Community Service. He was announced in June as one of two recipients. The other, Const. Derek Baker, received his award at that time.