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Police Services Hero of the Year Awards


Every day, police officers, 9-1-1 dispatchers, and civilian police personnel go above and beyond to keep our communities safe. The Police Association of Ontario is proud to celebrate these incredible individuals through the Police Services Hero of the Year Awards, now in its 10th anniversary year!

About the Police Services Hero of the Year Awards

This annual program invites members of the public to nominate their heroes for the work they do on behalf of Ontarians. Whether it’s an act of extraordinary bravery, a moment of kindness, or a long-standing commitment to community, your story matters.

Nominations are open from February 4 to March 7, 2025. Winners will be announced and celebrated on May 29, 2025, at the PAO Annual Meeting and Convention. The awards feature five distinct categories:

  • On-Duty Difference Maker – Uniform Officer: Recognizing officers who go above and beyond while on duty.
  • On-Duty Difference Maker – Civilian Police Service Employee: Honouring civilian employees who exceed expectations while on duty.
  • The Extra Mile Award: Celebrating acts of extraordinary kindness or bravery while off duty.
  • Community Role Model: Recognizing long-term contributions to community well-being.
  • Police Hero Honour Roll Award: Paying homage to impactful contributions over the past decade.

Join us in celebrating a decade of honoring Ontario’s police service heroes. Nominate your hero below during the submission period!

Nominate Your Hero

Step 1 of 2 - Your Information

Your Information

Name(Required)
Postal Code(Required)
Example: A1A2B2

Past Nominees

As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the awards program, we invite you to explore the inspiring stories of past nominees and winners. From extraordinary acts of bravery to lasting contributions to their communities, these stories showcase the unwavering dedication of Ontario’s police service members. 

The most recent nominees are featured below, and a full archive of past nominees and winners—organized by year, police service, and award category—is available through the link provided. Please note that, due to the high volume of nominations received, not all submissions are featured. 

Do you know a hero who deserves recognition? Submit your nomination above and be part of this remarkable tradition! 


FAQs

What are the nominee eligibility criteria?

Nominee Eligibility Criteria:

  • Nominees must be active sworn/uniform police officers or civilian employees of a municipal police service in Ontario or the Ontario Provincial Police (e.g., 911 dispatchers, communications personnel, court services personnel, forensics personnel, etc.).
  • Nominees must be members of one of the Police Association of Ontario’s 45 member associations and in good standing with their local association.
  • Nominations will not be accepted for police officers or civilian personnel with the Toronto Police Service or RCMP, as they are not members of the PAO.

Note: Members of the PAO Awards Committee are not eligible for the Police Services Hero of the Year Awards.

 

What are the nomination requirements for each submission?

Submissions must include:

  • A specific ‘police hero’ to be recognized.
  • Whether the nominee is a uniform or civilian member of their police service.
  • The award category for which the nominee is being submitted.
  • A reference to a specific occurrence where the nominee has gone above and beyond the call of duty on the job or in their community. This occurrence must have taken place within the past calendar year, except for the Police Hero Honour Roll Award.
  • The nominator must identify themselves for the purpose of verifying the validity of the submission.

What are the award categories and what is the criteria for each?

The Police Services Hero of the Year Awards feature five distinct categories:

  1. On-Duty Difference Maker – Uniform Officer: Recognizes a police officer who has gone above and beyond the expectations of the job while on duty.
  2. On-Duty Difference Maker – Civilian Police Service Employee: Honours a civilian police service employee who has exceeded the expectations of their role while on duty.
  3. The Extra Mile Award: Celebrates a police officer or civilian police service employee who has performed a one-time, extraordinary act of kindness or bravery while off duty.
  4. Community Role Model: Recognizes a police officer or civilian police service employee who has made a notable difference or contribution to their community during their free time over a prolonged period.
  5. Police Hero Honour Roll Award: Pays homage to a police officer or civilian police service employee who has made a significant impact over the past decade.

Please note: There may not always be a winner in every category.

What is the process and how are winners selected?

Nomination Period:

  • Nominations are accepted from February 4 to March 7, 2025.
  • Members of the public can submit nominations for eligible individuals during this time.

Review Process:

  • The PAO’s Awards Committee carefully reviews all submissions to evaluate nominees based on the award criteria.
  • This review process takes place in April 2025.

Winner Announcement and Celebration:

  • Winners are announced and celebrated at the PAO Annual Meeting and Convention on May 29, 2025, in Ottawa, ON.