This award recognizes the efforts of the most outstanding law enforcement professional from all our nominees.
Durham Regional Police - Staff Sergeant Eva Reti grew up in Sault Ste. Marie but began her policing career outside of Toronto in 1985. She worked on the road, in the Youth Bureau, the Sexual Assault Unit and was her service's first female Homicide Investigator. In 2003 as a Staff Sergeant she was assigned to her service's largest community police office where she is the Patrol Services Leader.
Eva's nominator describes her as a natural leader who has the ability to raise the entire work group to a new level. Subordinates want to follow her example of personal integrity and compassion. She challenges others to achieve excellence and celebrates in their successes.
As a Homicide Investigator Eva was assigned a 23-year old 'cold case' of a missing teenage girl. After a long and frustrating journey she found the missing girl in the 'Jane Doe' files of a southern U.S. state. The missing girl's remains were returned to her mother who was finally able to achieve some closure after 23 years.
As the lead investigator in to the crimes of a notorious sexual predator Eva became the first police officer in Canada to obtain and execute a DNA search warrant pursuant to the new Criminal Code provisions. In a letter from the Crown Attorney it states, "This officer's efforts in the investigation of the horrific activities of this offender have been inspiring. Her compassion for and support to the brutalized victims of this offender helped then to endure a long and difficult process. Consistently her work is of the highest calibre."
When she was promoted to Staff Sergeant and assigned a platoon of young officers she used her extensive investigative skills to assist and motivate her officers to conduct thorough criminal investigations. She would develop and plan monthly themes for the platoon encouraging officers to work for a Trophy she had created from a used toaster and some medals. The officers took pride in being the winner of the monthly trophy.
Eva regularly mentors other officers, and is approachable with the outstanding ability to listen. She is not afraid to offer her thoughts and ideas and has been a source of motivation and encouragement to many.
After work Eva volunteers her time to Adult Literacy and worked with a 50-year old woman who could not read or write. It took many months but in the end the woman was given the gift of words and the confidence and inspiration to continue learning.
Within Eva's community she has worked with the Women of Distinction nominations committee, the YWCA Women's Shelter, Meals on Wheels as a volunteer driver, the CIBC Run for the Cure, volunteered at numerous fundraisers and is a former volunteer for the Army Cadet Program and the St. John's Ambulance.
Commissioner Gwen Boniface of the Ontario Provincial Police and Mr. Al Monteath of Dye and Durham, Inc. presented the award to Eva.
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