Staff Sergeant Laura West leads the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) Leadership Unit and Awards and Recognition Unit within the Office of Professionalism, Respect, Inclusion, and Leadership. In this role, she sets strategy for leadership development and for the OPP recognition program, and she oversees the organization’s leadership training curriculum, facilitator development, and partnerships with the Provincial Police Academy. She has twice acted in the rank of Inspector in support of Executive Command.
Within the Leadership Unit, Staff Sergeant West delivered a disciplined plan that reflected recommendations of the Independent Review Panel and the OPP’s Healthy Workplace Strategy. She embedded OPP values and the organization’s 13 psychosocial factors into the curriculum, incorporated input from the Healthy Workplace Team, and introduced a Train the Trainer model to add instructors and deliver more workshops across the province. She improved scheduling and used participant feedback for continuous improvement. Through this plan, People Centred Leadership workshops reached 470 members and advanced respectful workplaces and consistent leadership behaviours. She also introduced program level performance measures to promote accountability and to track outcomes.
Understanding the cultural impact of recognition, Staff Sergeant West rebuilt awards processes to increase inclusion and transparency and to expand opportunities to highlight member achievements. She integrated recognition principles into leadership training, updated standard operating procedures, introduced inclusive award categories, and implemented a SharePoint based tracking system that improved visibility, timeliness, and historical data capture. These changes produced a substantial increase in nominations for the OPP’s internal Accolade Awards and improved morale across the organization, positioning the Awards and Recognition Unit as a key partner in building a culture that values member contributions. Staff Sergeant West supports ceremonies province wide and attends each one personally to assist as needed. She submits formal internal and external nominations on behalf of others and personally recognizes members through letters, emails, certificates, and direct acknowledgement.
Staff Sergeant West strengthened partnerships with the Provincial Police Academy, integrating Leadership Unit members into course delivery, and advancing the inclusion of people centred leadership in recruit training. She accomplished this while onboarding new sergeants and civilian staff and while maintaining stability during a period of transition.
Applying policy and the OPP’s fourfold test for reasonable decision making, Staff Sergeant West manages staffing and overtime to ensure fair, consistent practices that are applied without discrimination. She oversees complex human resources matters, including employment accommodations and return to work plans, and she has led more than fifteen job competitions while mentoring hiring managers and supporting diverse recruitment. Her renegotiation of a memorandum of understanding with a local college secured reliable, cost-effective training space near General Headquarters, reduced reliance on external venues, met legal and safety requirements, and improved program delivery.
Staff Sergeant West championed the OPP’s LEAD Survey, a secure, confidential assessment that gathers member feedback on leadership and workplace culture. Working with senior leaders and internal partners, she ensured ethical and privacy standards, operational readiness, and confidentiality measures that encouraged participation and that enabled results to inform program improvements and measure progress toward psychologically safe workplaces.
As Chair of the First Aid Challenge Coin Working Group, Staff Sergeant West has led development of a standardized framework to recognize lifesaving actions that align with OPP values. She serves on the Provincial Awards Committee and contributes to planning for the Senior Leadership Symposium and the OPP Mess Dinner. She previously chaired the Case Law Legislative Review Committee and contributed to the Bill C 75 Working Group and the Major Case Management Audit Committee, supporting legislative awareness, frontline training, and inter agency collaboration.
Staff Sergeant West’s commitment to inclusion is demonstrated through the Diversity Career Champions Program, where she is both a graduate and a mentor who supports succession planning and professional growth for uniform and civilian members. Externally, she serves as the provincial lead for the Law Enforcement Torch Run and, in 2024, she coordinated the Guardian’s Run that raised $40,000 for Special Olympics. She continued to expand outreach initiatives in 2025 and into 2026 and currently serves on the executive committee of Federated Health Charities, advancing initiatives that reflect the OPP’s commitment to service, inclusion, and leadership.
Throughout all of her work, Staff Sergeant West models honesty, approachability, and clear communication. She knows her team, checks in regularly, and fosters open, respectful dialogue that builds trust and supports sound decision making. By turning organizational priorities into practical training and recognition programs, she delivers measurable improvements in skills, morale, and workplace health. Through consistent, values-based practice that pairs clear standards with fair support, she strengthens partnerships, builds psychologically safe teams, and sets a reliable standard for ethical, results focused leadership. These sustained, on duty contributions demonstrate how Staff Sergeant West goes above and beyond to strengthen OPP leadership, recognition, culture, wellness, and partnerships across the organization.
