Five members of the Chatham-Kent Police Service with nearly 80 combined years of service and just under 100 public and official commendations were promoted to the rank of Sergeant during last week’s police services board meeting.
Sergeant Kate McArthur is a veteran of the major crime unit where she achieved distinction in the investigation of former priest Father Charles Sylvester, one of the largest sexual abuse cases in Canadian history.
A 23-year veteran of the service, she was the recipient of two deputy chief letters of recognition, five chief commendations and a board citation. She is also the recipient of the police exemplary service medal from the Governor General of Canada, for her 20-plus years of service to law enforcement in Canada.
Sergeant Mike Hakr began his policing career with the newly formed Chatham-Kent Police Service in August of 1998. He has been the recipient of eight public letters of appreciation, nine deputy chief letters of recognition, two chief commendations, one certificate of appreciation from the Commissioner of the RCMP for his involvement with security operations (Integrated Security Unit) for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic winter games, and finally, one board citation for his work in the investigation and successful prosecution of the impaired driving causing death investigation in which Wladyslaw Bilski killed four women in 2007.
Sergeant Albert Pilbeam started his policing career in May of 2000 with the Chatham-Kent Police Service. He was an eleven year-veteran of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), eventually becoming team leader.
He has received twelve public letters of appreciation, five deputy chief letters of recognition, and a chief’s commendation for his courage, communication skills and tactical intelligence in the successful resolution of an incident involving an armed suicidal male.
Sergeant Matt Stezycki began his local policing career in October of 2003.
An eight year member of the CIRT, he remains its supervisor. He is the recipient of 19 public letters of appreciation for services rendered including, one letter from the Department of National Defence and Kensington Palace for his involvement in providing protection and escorting his Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent during his visit to the Ansell Armoury in Chatham. He has also received four deputy chief letters of recognition and a chief’s Commendation for his role in apprehension of a suicidal male, who was in crisis threatening to jump from the Black bridge in Chatham.
Sergeant Michael Pearce joined the Chatham-Kent Police Service August of 2007. Two years later he was transferred into the newly formed Public Information Officer/Media Relations Unit.
While in this position, he redesigned the CKPS website, created a corporate identity with the development of the mascot Constable Courage and implemented a social media strategy with the launch of Facebook and Twitter and eventually was appointed as the Vice Chair of OMRON (Ontario Media Relations Officers Network) which is supported by the OACP.
He was a guest speaker at the Social Media, Internet and Law Enforcement (SMILE) conference hosted by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in Vancouver, British Columbia where he presented on “Small Agency, Big Results” in respect to social media.
He is the recipient of 14 public letters of appreciation, six deputy chief letters of recognition, and a chief’s commendation for bravery and compassion by entering frigid waters in an attempt to rescue a trapped person involved in a motor vehicle collision.
