Brandon officer honoured for law enforcement excellence

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This article was published 05/11/2010 (5542 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Brandon police officer is among five from Manitoba who were to be recognized Friday evening with the presentation of the 2009 Excellence in Law Enforcement Awards by Attorney General Andrew Swan.

"I am honoured to recognize the achievements of these outstanding officers," said Swan. "They are exemplary members of Manitoba’s police services whose efforts on the job and in the community have helped make our province a better, safer place to live."

Nominees considered for the award have made significant contributions to their police service, law enforcement or the community. This year’s recipients are:

Const. Darren Creighton joined the Brandon Police Service in 1990 having already served as a correctional officer, a court officer and a provincial sheriff. A member of the Brandon Tactical Unit for the past 17 years, Creighton is also a long-time executive member of the Brandon Police Association and vice-president of the Manitoba Police Association. He has many off-the-job charitable and volunteer commitments including coaching high-school sports teams, serving on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Brandon and chairing the Brandon and Area Humane Society.

Const. Kathryn Antymis is a 10-year veteran of the Winnipeg Police Service and has been their counterfeit currency investigator since 2007.  Antymis’s arrest success rate on the passing of counterfeit money exceeds any other in Canada. She is directly responsible for the successful resolution of several lengthy fraud-related investigations through the Commercial Crime Unit, with the recovery of property and assets from investigations totalling well over $7 million.

Staff Sgt. John Fleming has been with the RCMP for 35 years, strengthening ties between the community and those who enforce the law. He has made significant contributions as a trained hostage negotiator since 1993 and the team leader of the RCMP hostage negotiations team since 2001.  He has also dedicated many hours to training others in the proper use of force and tactical options. Fleming has also served extensively as a community volunteer, involved in minor hockey, working as a volunteer ambulance attendant on his days off and serving with the Kinsmen Club in Arborg.

Staff Sgt. Bud Guest joined the Winnipeg Police Service in 1981. He is a recognized leader, providing developmental guidance to many junior officers. Guest was instrumental in setting up the Community Support Unit in Division #11 and in creating the Clean Sweep model used to address criminal issues in certain city areas. He also championed the creation of the current Street Crimes Unit.

Sgt. Karen Timchuk joined the Winnipeg Police Service in 1988 and has worked in the Forensic Services Unit since 2001. Recognized as an expert in her field, she has been instrumental in the implementation of many programs and policies which have enhanced her unit. She has also given countless presentations designed to educate the public and stakeholders on forensic investigative issues and procedures. 

The awards will be presented this evening at a meeting of the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police.

Recipients were selected by a committee consisting of representatives from Manitoba Justice, the Brandon Police Service, Winnipeg Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and were approved by the Attorney General.