Constable Maurie Sheppard, Waterloo Regional Police

THIS CO-WINNER IS A HIGHLY MOTIVATED OFFICER WHOSE COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE IS TOTAL DEDICATION BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY. SHE HAS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND IS DRIVEN BY A STRONG DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE EITHER THROUGH HER WORK AS A POLICE OFFICER OR AS A VOLUNTEER HAMMERING NAILS IN A COMMUNITY HOME BUILD. THIS OFFICER IS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE UNITED WAY AND HAS WORKED WITH OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICE AGENCIES AND THE COMMUNITY ON VARIOUS EVENTS OVER THE YEARS TO ASSIST THIS WORTHWHILE ORGANIZATION. SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL OPTIMIST CLUB WHERE SHE HOLDS THE POSITION OF TREASURER. LAST SUMMER SHE VOLUNTEERED MANY DAYS OFF AND HOURS BEFORE HER SHIFT FOR THE HABITAT FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION HELPING TO BUILD TWO HOMES FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED FAMILIES IN ST. JACOBS.

L to R: Supertintendent Rita Westbrook, Waterloo Regional Police, Constable Maurie Sheppard, Waterloo Regional Police, Martin Weatherall, Director, Toronto Police Association

SHE HAS WORKED ON CAMPAIGNS TO RAISE MONEY FOR A NUMBER OF CHARITIES INCLUDING THE ONTARIO SPECIAL OLYMPICS, THE CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY, THE SUNNYDALE LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT FOR YOUTH, THE LUNG ASSOCIATION AND VARIOUS OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. OFTEN SHE HAS INVOLVED HER CO-WORKERS IN THESE EVENTS AS A WAY OF HEIGHTENING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND CO-OPERATION WITH THE POLICE. LAST YEAR SHE BECAME AWARE OF A SITUATION WHERE THE CUSTODIAL WORKER AT HER STATION WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY MAKING ENDS MEET FINANCIALLY FOR HER FAMILY. THIS OFFICER ARRANGED A COLLECTION WITHIN THE DIVISION, HIRED THE WOMAN TO CLEAN HER HOME, OBTAINED A DONATION OF BICYCLES, HELMETS AND LOCKS FOR THE WOMAN'S CHILDREN, HAD THE LANDLORD OF THE WOMAN'S APARTMENT BUILDING FIX SOME DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THEN ASSISTED THE WOMAN TO GET A BETTER JOB WHERE HER WAGES WERE TRIPLED. THIS OFFICER IS THOUGHT OF VERY HIGHLY BY HER CO-WORKERS AND HER COMMUNITY. HER COMPASSION AND DESIRE TO HELP HAVE BEEN A BENEFIT TO THE REGION OF WATERLOO WHERE SHE WORKS. THE CO-WINNER OF THE LAURA ELLIS AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE IS CONSTABLE MAURIE SHEPPARD OF THE WATELOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE.