Corrections exemplary service medals awarded

Twenty-three people were recognized today for their contribution to corrections in the province.

Justice Minister and Attorney General Felix Collins attended the presentation of medals by Lt.-Gov.  John Crosbie at The Rooms in St. John’s.

 “I am honoured to recognize these individuals today for their outstanding commitment to ensuring public safety and their dedication in the rehabilitation of offenders,” said Collins. “It is important that we all recognize and appreciate the invaluable contribution that those in the field of corrections make to society.”

 Eight Exemplary Service medals and eight 30-year bars of service were presented at the ceremony. Six newly promoted correctional officers were also presented with certificates of commission.

For the first time, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Chief’s Commendation Award was presented to a correctional officer. Correctional officer David Mesher is currently assigned to the Criminal Intelligence and Organized Crime Unit of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

The Corrections Exemplary Service Medal was created in 1984 and recognizes employees of the correctional services throughout Canada who have served in an exemplary manner, characterized by good conduct, industry and efficiency. Recipients must have been working on or after the date of creation of the medal, and must have completed 20 years of full-time service, not necessarily continuous, with one or more of the correctional services in Canada.

A person who has been awarded the medal is eligible to be awarded a bar in respect of each additional 10-year period of full-time service with one or more correctional services in Canada, after the 20-year period in respect of which he or she was awarded the medal, if that service is of such good standard as to warrant an award.

The recipient list is as follows:

Officer Commissioning Certificate Recipients

 (These officers have recently been promoted and were presented with their Commissioning Certificates.)

Hector Hillier, Captain, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

Jason Brace, Lieutenant, Bishop’s Falls Correctional Centre

Jeremy Gould, Lieutenant, Labrador Correctional Centre

Randy Hanlon, Lieutenant, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

Marilyn Seaward, Lieutenant, Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women,

Trent Sharpe, Lieutenant, West Coast Correctional Centre

Correctional Exemplary Service Medal Recipients

Kelly Ann Rowsell, Assistant Superintendent, Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women

Paul Bendell, Correctional Officer, West Coast Correctional Centre

Sean Coady, Correctional Officer, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

David Legge, Correctional Officer, Corner Brook Detention Centre

Brian McAllister, Correctional Officer, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

Jeff Thistle, Correctional Officer, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

David Tilley - Correctional Officer, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

Clarice Best-Brown, Clerk IV, Labrador Correctional Centre

Corrections Exemplary Service Medal 30-year Bar Recipients

Morris Power, Assistant Superintendent, Bishop’s Falls Correctional Centre

Owen Brophy, Captain, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

Clarence J. Tobin, Captain, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

Barry Whitty, Captain, St. John’s City Lock Up

Ronald Croke, Lieutenant, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

Kevin Stanley, Correctional Officer, West Coast Correctional Centre

Brian J. Whelan, Correctional Officer II, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary (Retired)

Raymond Dewling, Sergeant, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary (Retired)

RNC Chief’s Commendation Award

David Mesher, Correctional Officer, Her Majesty’s Penitentiary. Mesher is currently assigned to the Criminal Intelligence and Organized Crime Unit of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.