Two Abbotsford Police officers were honoured Wednesday morning in Ottawa with the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.
Deputy Chief Rick Lucy and Sgt. Mike Novakowski were among officers across Canada who received the award from Gov.-Gen. David Johnston in recognition of their contributions to policing and the community.
Lucy, a 29-year veteran of the Abbotsford Police Department (APD), played a vital role in the formation of the Municipal Integrated Emergency Response Team, which saw four partner agencies combine resources to combat crime.
He also established a property crime reduction unit, oversaw the creation of the gang suppression unit, and introduced CompStat (computer statistics) and crime analysis to the APD.
Lucy has been involved in community activities as a director for the board of Special Olympics BC, provincial director and current chair of the BC Law Enforcement Torch Run, and an executive member of the Abbotsford Youth Commission.
Novakowski, a 22-year veteran of the APD, created the "In Service: 10-8" newsletter 11 years ago to help inform officers of the constantly evolving areas of case law and legal rulings.
He is also known for his tireless work in anti-gang initiatives through a series of posters, videos, and school presentations. The "Operation" series includes Tarnish, Impact, Veritas, Lodestar, Reclamation and Acorn.
The posters and videos have been viewed by thousands and have been used by police and other agencies across North America.