FAQ

FAQ

How it Works

  • Nominations need to include a written or verbal description (through the online nomination form, email, Facebook direct message, or Twitter direct message) as to why your local police personnel should be considered for the PAO Police Services Hero of the Year award in one of the following five categories:

      • On-Duty Difference Maker – Uniform Officer (A police officer who has gone above and beyond the expectations of the job while on-duty)
      • On-Duty Difference Maker – Civilian Police Service Employee (A civilian police service employee who has gone above and beyond the expectations of the job while on-duty)
      • The Extra Mile Award (A police officer or civilian police service employee who has done a one-time, extraordinary act of kindness or bravery while off the job)
      • Community Role Model (A police officer or civilian police service employee who, in their free time, has made a notable difference in or contribution to their community over a prolonged period)
      • 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)
  • All submissions are kept strictly confidential. No names will be disclosed without the expressed written consent of the nominator. 
  • Nominations will are now closed.
  • Winners will be announced in May.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Police hero award nominees must be one of the following – an active sworn/uniform police officer or an employee of a municipal police service in Ontario (such as a 911 Dispatcher, Communications personnel, Court Services personnel, Forensics ID personnel, etc).
  • Please note, as they are not members of the Police Association of Ontario, nominations will NOT be accepted for police officers or civilian police personnel with the Toronto Police or RCMP.
  • Nominations must identify a specific ‘police hero’ to be recognized and identify whether they are a uniform or civilian member of their police service.
  • Nominations must indicate which of the five Police Services Hero of the Year Awards categories they are nominating a 'police hero' for.
  • Nominations must include reference to an occurrence where the 'police hero' has gone above and beyond the call of duty while on the job or in their community. This occurrence must have taken place within ONE calendar year of the nomination, except for the Police Hero Honour Roll Award
  • Nominator must identify themselves in the submission for the purpose of verifying the validity of the content.
  • Nominations must come from members of the public - police personnel cannot nominate each other for these awards.
  • PAO Awards Committee members are ineligible for the Police Services Hero of the Year awards.

*** Please note that there may not always be a winner in every category***

Award Process

Nominations for the 2024 Police Services Hero of the Year are open now.

  • The 2024 Police Services Hero of the Year awards nominations period ran from February 1 - March 18, 2024, during which time the Police Association of Ontario (PAO) accepted 'police hero' nominations from the public (nominators).
  • Nominations can be submitted through an online form on PoliceHero.ca, emailed to [email protected], or sent via direct message on the PAO Facebook or Twitter pages.
  • A nominator is able to nominate more than one police services personnel.
  • In April 2024, all nominations will be compiled and provided to the PAO Awards Committee to deliberate and select finalists and winners for each award category.
  • The winners will be announced in May 2024.