I would like to nominate my husband Sergeant Douglas Pflug of the Guelph Police Service for this prestigious honor.

On August 9th, 1989, Douglas Paul Pflug fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a member of the Guelph Police Service. Throughout his 28-year career, he has had a tremendous positive impact within the Community through his ongoing commitment to the Guelph Police Service and Special Olympics, in addition to numerous coaching and mentorship opportunities, donating countless hours to various local organizations.

The few accolades listed below merely begin to depict Sergeant Douglas Pflug's commendable career:


1990  Chief Stewart Lifesaving Commendation - Doug performed the Heimlich Manoeuvre on a choking 8-year-old boy.

1994  Assigned to the Traffic Division, Doug investigated a fatal collision involving a child riding their bicycle without a helmet. Doug subsequently created the Guelph Police Service Bike Helmet Program. Each year, members of the Service and recognize youths aged 3-13 years for wearing their helmet and gave them a coupon for a FREE Dairy Queen. A draw is also held each August when a boy and a girl are awarded a bicycle courtesy of George Vettor Cycle. To date, 18,430 tickets have been issued and 38 bikes donated.

1995 Chief Bradburn Lifesaving Commendation On April 1st, Doug, along with two other officers, entered frigid waters and rescued a male who crashed his car into a 6 ft deep pond.

1998-2008 Doug established and organized the annual Guelph Storm vs. Guelph Police No-Stars Charity Hockey game�. During this time frame, the event raised over $40,000.00 for Guelph-Wellington Special Olympics.

2000 Guelph Police Service - Member of the Year

2000 Ontario Youth Officer's Award

2002-2016  Doug has served as a strength and conditioning coach for the Guelph-Wellington Buns Master Rollers Special Olympics Floor Hockey Team. The team recently won the Provincial and Canadian Championships and are training for the 2017 World Special Olympics Championships in Graz, Austria. In addition to weekly workouts with the team, Doug acts as a mentor, motivator, and lifelong friend to members. The team also earned a silver medal at the 2012 World Special Olympics Floor Hockey Championships in Boise, Idaho.

2003 Guelph Police Service - Award of Excellence for Community Service 

In addition to his commitment to Special Olympics, Doug has donated his time as the strength and conditioning coach for:

- The Guelph Storm Hockey Club (1995-2014)
- Wrestle Canada (2009-2011)
- University of Guelph Men's and Women's Varsity Soccer Teams (2009-2011) 
- University of West Virginia Men's Hockey (2014-2016)
- His daughters, Reighan and Alexis' rep soccer and track and field teams (2000-Current)

2008-Present Doug partnered with long-time friend and owner of Winmar Restoration Guelph, Paul Schmidt to form the The Restoring Family Values Partnership. Winmar Restoration has committed to a 10-year funding model of $10,000 per year, for a total of $100,000.00 towards youth-related programs in the community.

2009-Present Founding member and current officer-in-charge of the Guelph Police Service Chief's Ceremonial Unit. 

2009 In 2005, as Managing Editor, Doug coordinated a team of sworn and civilian members who volunteered thousands of hours publishing Fingerprints Through Time - A History of the Guelph Police Service. The 158-page coffee table book was released in 2009 and sales have since exceeded 900 copies. An additional 46 books have been donated to local elementary schools and two copies are kept in the National Archives of Canada. All profits, in excess of $4,000.00, have been donated to the Guelph Police Cops and Kids Christmas Program.

2010 Governor General of Canada Police Exemplary Medal

2010 Doug was personally seconded to the Toronto Police Service and served as a Mobile Media Officer during the G20 Economic Summit.

2011 Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police - Ontario Media Relations Officer Network - Media Officer of the Year Award.

2011 On October 27th, Doug was inducted into the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Guelph-Wellington Special Olympics Buns Master Roller.

2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee Award - for dedication to improving relationships between members of our community and the police

2015 Guelph Police Service - Award for Excellence in Community Service

2015-Present In 2015, Doug accepted a position as the University of Guelph Gryphon Football Community Service Liaison and facilitates player appearances at local school and charity events.

2016 The Guelph Police Service hosted the Ontario Special Olympics Spring Games and Doug was the co-chair for the opening ceremonies. This event involved more than two years of planning and, following its conclusion, Glen McDonell, CEO of Special Olympics Ontario expressed his thanks.

Doug has also served as peer mentor for both the Guelph Storm Hockey Club (1995-present ) and the University of Guelph Gryphon Football team (1998-Present). In addition to on-going guidance and support, Doug delivers an annual talk educating these young men on social responsibility and various contentious topics including drug and alcohol abuse, criminal offences, healthy relationships and responsible use of social media. Through these discussions, Doug provides athletes with the knowledge and resolve required to form proper decisions as members of the community.

2016 On May 18th, Doug was once again inducted into the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1997-1998 Guelph Storm Hockey Club. Doug was the strength coach for the team.

2016 Doug and his wife, Michelle created the University of Guelph Gryphon Football Pflug Family Community Service award presented annually to the graduating player with the most community service hours.

2016 City of Guelph Mayor's Award Recipient - Doug was recognized for his extensive volunteerism performed through the Guelph Police Service and through his personal affiliations with other local organizations. Doug's heartfelt acceptance speech, available for viewing at youtu.be/qT8_06tjW_Af, focused on the many individuals that supported his endeavours and effected a profound difference in his life. As he closed, Doug proposed a challenge to all attendees, one he relentlessly strives to meet himself: When you leave here tonight, please take the time to make a stranger smile. Better yet mentor a young person. You have no idea what your small act of kindness can have on a person and you never know what amazing human potential you can help to release from that person.

2014-present. Doug volunteers his time as the strength and conditioning coach for the Rockwood FC 2004 Girls travel soccer team. 

2016 Doug accepted a seat on the Board of Directors for Hopewell Children's Homes. This not-for-profit charity provides high-quality personal care for children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities and complex needs and support for their families. 

2016- September Doug and his wife Michelle were presented joint awards from the Guelph Wellington Special Olympics for their strength and conditioning training for the Buns Master Rollers Special Olympics Floor Hockey Team. Doug and Michelle trained the athletes for 8 months in preparation for the 2016 Canadian Special Olympics Floor Hockey Championships in NFLD where the team captured Gold. 

Since May 2016 Doug has volunteered his time 2-3 times per week training the same team as they prepared for the Special Olympics World Winter Games Floor Hockey Championships in Graz Austria. 

I respectfully submit that Doug is definitely worthy of the PAO Police Services Hero of the Year Award and I know his Special Olympics Team, University of Guelph Gryphon Football Team, Rockwood FC, the many youth he mentors as well as the numerous charities he works with along with the community of Guelph would support this nomination as well.

Doug is a very busy man helping his community and it should also be noted that he is an amazing husband and father as well. He includes us in every aspect of his service to community and we have all grown tremendously because of these efforts and involvement. 

Doug strives to be a positive male role model in everything he does and is very successful at this. He truly "talks the talk and walks the walk" thereby promoting an environment where others can excel through his passion, integrity and honor that he templates everything he does.