Abbotsford Police Sgt. Mike Novakowksi was presented with the third meritorious service award of his career during the 31st annual Police Honours Night on Thursday in Victoria.
Novakowski was among 43 officers from across the province to receive the award, while another 22 were recognized for valorous service and four for outstanding service.
He received the honour because of his work in developing the "Operation" series of anti-gang programs for youth and their parents. The series – including Impact, Tarnish, Veritas and Acorn – focuses on kids making positive choices in their lives.
Recipients are selected for the Police Honours 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, 44, has been a police officer in Abbotsford since 1989 and previously received the meritorious service award in 1997 and 2008.
This is the fourth award he has received this year. In January, he was presented with the Paul N. Tinsley Scholarship, worth $2,000, to complete his master's degree in law from Osgood Hall Law School at York University in Toronto.
In June, he received the Abbotsford Police Award for Outstanding Community Service.
And earlier this month, Novakowski was among three APD officers to be recognized with a Solicitor General Community Safety and Crime Prevention Award.