The province has awarded 100 sheriffs with Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medals (POESM), five of which serve in Prince George.
POESMs are awarded to peace officers with 20 years of “outstanding service” in their roles, the Ministry of the Attorney General said in a release.
“When people attend court, they are often under a lot of stress and the last thing they need to be concerned about is safety,” said Niki Sharma, the Attorney General. “These sheriffs have been going above and beyond the call of duty for many years to help make sure people in communities across B.C. can access the justice services they need safely.”
The Prince George officers receiving awards are:
Supt. Peter Wharton, 30 years (bar)
Sgt. Joseph Kerkhof, 30 years
Sgt. Eric Leblond, 20 years
Deputy Sheriff Mitchell Baker, 20 years
Deputy Sheriff Alicia Correia, 20 years
The POESM was established in 2004 – all recipients must have spent at least 10 years serving in a front-line role with potential risk.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
