Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detachment Administrative Clerk Karen Golec is nominated for the PAO On Duty Difference Maker Civilian Award for sustaining operations at the most northern township detachment in Ontario since 2003, and for consistently exceeding the expectations of her role.
As the sole administrative clerk at the Pickle Lake Detachment, Karen is the operational foundation in a remote environment defined by constant personnel turnover and unique challenges. She supports probationary constables completing two year postings, many arriving from Southern Ontario, by assisting with housing, utilities, internet, travel logistics, and the realities of living and policing in an isolated community. Her steady presence helps new members establish themselves quickly and effectively in both the workplace and the community.
Karen anchors leadership transitions and provides institutional continuity. She has supported fifteen Sergeants and well over one hundred Provincial Constables, many of them new to policing. For Acting or newly promoted Sergeants with limited experience running a remote detachment, she offers guidance on local processes, community relationships, and operational expectations, allowing supervisors to focus on leading their teams. Many former Sergeants openly acknowledge that Karen keeps Pickle Lake functioning during periods of transition. Her impact extends beyond internal operations through the Pardon Project, an initiative assisting Indigenous community members in obtaining record suspensions to access employment and rebuild stability.
In addition, Karen served as the primary point of contact for North Caribou Lake First Nation and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation and personally guided more than eighty individuals through documentation, court inquiries, administrative requirements, and payment tracking, working closely with Ontario Court Services to move applications forward efficiently. In addition to her detachment responsibilities, Karen serves as the Ontario Provincial Police Association Branch 17 Director, providing support and advocacy to members across the Northwest Region and offering guidance to those facing professional and personal challenges. Her contributions support young recruits, stabilize developing supervisors, strengthen community relationships, and deliver meaningful opportunities for others. She is highly deserving of recognition through the PAO On Duty Difference Maker Civilian Award.
