Officer helps most vulnerable

Const. Susan Crawford has a soft spot in her heart for senior gentlemen.

Her father lived alone for several years prior to his death, which touched the veteran officer.

“A lot of men live alone with no family and help,” she said.

“It makes me feel sad.”

As a member of the 51 Division Community Response Unit foot patrol, Crawford is always on the lookout for homeless men on city streets in the Division. She points them to the Good Neighbours Club, established during the Great Depression eight decades ago to serve marginalized men in the city’s downtown core, and collects used clothing for club residents.

At the club’s fifth annual day of the homeless memorial service on September 10, Crawford was recognised with the inaugural May Birchard Award.

The municipal politician and advocate for the poor and disenfranchised passed away in 1968.

“This is quite an honour and surprise because I don’t feel as if I have done anything special,” said Crawford, who joined the Service 11 years ago and has been with 51 Division since 2004.

“Whenever I see men on the street that I recognize have some needs, I try to direct them to this club so they can get help.”

Lauro Monteiro, the Good Neighbours Club operations director, said Crawford embodies the tenets of community policing.

“When her dad passed away about three years ago, she donated his clothing to the club,” he said.

“She has done the same thing when other male family members have died and she always drops by while on patrol to see how things are going here. Sue is very engaged with this club in a proactive manner.”

Monteiro said Crawford drove a man to the centre in order to get him TTC tokens.

S/Supt. Frank Bergen, who represented Good Neighbours Club vice-patron Chief Bill Blair at the ceremony, said Crawford embodies the mandate of a community police officer.

“In 2006 when we implemented the Yonge St. patrol, it was a natural fit to take Sue Crawford, who had come from 52 Division because she understands that footprint of helping people,” said Bergen, the Division’s Community Response Unit staff sergeant at the time.

Supt. John Tanouye, Insp. Gary Meissner, Community Response Unit S/Sgt. John Spanton and Toronto Police Association president Mike McCormack attended the event.

“Sue is always out there in the community helping people and playing her part to uplift the community,” said Tanouye.

“She’s fantastic and fully deserves this recognition.”

Other award recipients included Good Neighbour Club sponsor and World War II veteran Ronald Andersen, the recipient of the Patron Award; Master Cpl. Marika Grys of the Canadian Armed Forces, who received the Executive Director Award; Anne-Marie Batten; Mike Pedersen and Theresa Colonna.

Master of ceremonies Roger Petersen, an ardent club supporter, was made an honourary life member.

Two members of 51 Division were presented with a St. John Ambulance Award at a ceremony on Tuesday, September 10^th at The National Club located at 303 Bay Street.

LIFESAVING AWARD:

PC Erin Carter-Thuet was commended for her quick & decisive action which not only resulted in a life being saved, but in the recovery of a medical practitioner and valuable contributor to the critical treatment and mental health of children in our community.  Her life saving actions cannot be understated.  Constable Carter effectively administered chest compressions while other medical attendants stood about in a state of shock before paramedics had arrived, resulting in the resuscitation of a victim who had previously been unconscious and stopped breathing.

CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION:

PC Sheraz Arshad performed in an exemplary and selfless manner in a situation more suited to Toronto Fire Services personnel, fully appraised of the danger and still willing to accept the challenge and assume the risks inherent in preserving lives – and his actions were uniquely attributed to saving five (5) lives that day.

It is also noteworthy to stress that this matter would never even have come to our attention (as Sheraz was certainly not the one to champion his own performance and seek public recognition at the time, outside of submitting an IOD Report) were his efforts that day not considered exceptional for EMS recognition earlier this year.