Kabul, Afghanistan – December 2, 2013 – On November 27, 33 Canadian police officers serving in Afghanistan were recognized for their service during a medal presentation held at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul.
The medal presentation was the last of the current mission, marking more than 10 years of Canadian police service in Afghanistan. Among the contingent, 18 police officers received their Operational Service Medal, while all were given the RCMP’s International Peace Operations Commemorative coin.
During the ceremony, the Canadian police commander, RCMP Chief Superintendent Marion Lamothe, presented a plaque to Ambassador Deborah Lyons, thanking her and her predecessors for their invaluable support of Canadian police efforts over the past decade. He also presented recognition plaques to the Canadian defence attaché, two administrative officers and security personnel.
In addition, several police officers received their long service medals, including one member of the Calgary Police and two RCMP members who work at Ottawa headquarters supporting police in mission. An Ontario Provincial Police member was also awarded the St. John’s Life Saving Award.
“One of the most impressive aspects of the Canadian contribution in Afghanistan has been our policing effort,” said Ambassador Lyons. “Canadian police officers have been able to reach across the cultural and institutional barriers to galvanize an Afghan-led effort with real “transformative” potential.”
Attending the ceremony were senior police officers from Canada, including Toronto Police Deputy Chief Mark Saunders, Assistant Commissioner (A/Commr.) Todd Shean and Chief Superintendent Eric Slinn (both from the RCMP’s Federal Policing), as well as an official from Public Safety Canada’s Law Enforcement and Policing Branch.
The visitors were accompanied by staff from the RCMP’s office for International Policing Development, which manages Canadian police deployments to international peace operations.
The delegation spent several days in Kabul, visiting Canadian police officers at European Union and NATO mission headquarters, as well as those working within the Afghan Ministry of the Interior.
“It was an honour to personally thank Canadian police officers in Afghanistan for their service to the mission, and to see first-hand how their efforts are making a difference,” said A/Commr. Shean. “We are proud of Canadian police contributions to international efforts over the past 10 years to build the Afghan National Police.”
The current Canadian police mission in Afghanistan will end in March. Today, 41 police officers from seven services across Canada are serving as trainers and advisors to the Afghan National Police, namely, the Calgary Police, the Montreal Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Ottawa Police, the RCMP, the Thunder Bay Police and the Toronto Police.
