A Cloverdale constable has been named one of Surrey's top Mounties.
The Surrey Board of Trade held its 16th Annual Police Officer of the Year Awards last week.
The Police Officer of the Year Award, Nominated by Peers, went to Const. Mark Levesque, a popular member of the neighbourhood liaison unit, who is known throughout the community, whether it's responding the public's concerns at the front counter or working with local businesses.
Shortly after his arrival at the District 4 Cloverdale/Port Kells community office, he introduced himself to the businesses i, ensuring they knew who he was and to come forward if they had issues of concern.
His commitment and work ethic are credited with enabling him to close multiple theft cases, earning him the respect of his peers. He's also a familiar face at local community events.
Jen Temple, who manages Hillcrest Village Shopping Centre, is another familiar face, particularly in the fast-growing enclave of Clayton, where she's a proactive champion for the community.
Over the past couple of years, she's helped spearhead anti-graffiti initiatives at the shopping plaza as part of a zero-tolerance approach to this form of vandalism.
She's worked collaboratively with police on several targeted projects aimed at dealing with nuisance behaviour and public disorder.
She also supports and participates in the Youth Intervention Program, which strives to address the underlying causes of criminal behaviour.
Temple's tireless efforts to resolve various ongoing issues are making an impact: There's been a marked decrease in graffiti and related activity around the shopping centre, reducing the perception of crime and increasing quality of life in the community.
Levesque and Temple were among the 2012 winners at the annual awards, presented Oct. 18 at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel.
The Surrey RCMP detachment is the largest in Canada, with more than 650 officers and hundreds of support staff.
– With files from Black Press