Police Appreciation Night 2024

Detective Constable Dovelin Hawthorne

Growing up in Jamaica, Detective Constable Dovelin Hawthorne was always passionate about soccer.

He would spend hours playing with his friends anywhere they could find a make-do field. He played in bare feet, because he didn’t have soccer cleats.

When Detective Constable Hawthorne was 19, he immigrated to Canada with his family. But, even after moving, Constable Hawthorne’s parents would gather items and money to send them back to their hometown any chance they could.

After the passing of his parents and in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Detective Constable Hawthorne was looking for a way to give back and honour their memories, rallying the community for a positive purpose.

That's when he started the Caring Cleats Initiative. Watch the video to learn more.

Project Monarch Investigative Team

More than 400 charges were laid and 22 people were arrested after a large-scale gun and drug trafficking network was dismantled by York Regional Police investigators.

The investigation began in 2021, when officers identified someone believed to be trafficking controlled substances. As the investigation progressed, police found additional suspects distributing cocaine, fentanyl and firearms in Brampton and London.

Eventually, police identified suspects shipping illegal guns through Walpole Island First Nation, on the border of Ontario and Port Huron in Michigan.

Watch the video to hear about the outstanding work of the Project Monarch Investigative team.

Rafipour Homicide Investigative Team

Soheil Rafipour, 33, was leaving a party on Christmas eve 2018, in a quiet residential area of Richmond Hill, when he was targeted and shot at multiple times.

Rafipour collapsed on the sidewalk as the suspect continued to fire shots at him. Fifteen months later, two people were arrested in connection with the incident.

Around the time of Rafipour’s death, there was a surge of violence involving several tow truck companies in the Greater Toronto area, which included arsons and other shootings.

The investigative team—led by Detective Deborah Gilmour—determined one of the accused in the Rafipour murder was entrenched in the tow truck industry.

Watch the video to see how the Rafipour Homicide Investigative Team brought justice to Rafipour's family. 

It was a quiet evening, just days before Christmas in 2022, when shots rang out at a luxury condominium building on Jane Street, north of Rutherford Road in Vaughan.

Panicked calls flooded in to York Regional Police—an armed shooter was moving through the building.

Several gunshots were heard, but the suspect’s whereabouts in the massive building were unclear.

YRP 9-1-1 Communicators expertly relayed the information to officers on the front line, who responded immediately.

When officers arrived at the Bellaria Residences condominium, they encountered a horrific scene. Six people suffered from gunshot wounds in separate units, on separate floors of the building.

Though officers attempted life-saving measures, tragically, five people were pronounced deceased. The sixth was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

YRP officers immediately took control of the situation and planned and executed a co-ordinated approach. Risking their own lives, they entered the building in search of the gunman.

The suspect was located and stopped, before more violence could occur.

Only eight minutes had passed since communicators received the first 9-1-1 call.

The coordinated, professional and calculated response from members of YRP prevented further tragedy.

The ability of YRP officers to effectively apply their training to a critical, real-time incident ensured the safety of all of those responding to the call.

For those officers, embodying YRP values of courage and professionalism wasn’t just a platitude. That night, it saved lives.

Administrative Assistant Suzie Broad

Suzie Broad, an 11-year-member of York Regional Police, has been honoured with the Leo MacArthur Civilian Recognition Award.

Broad currently serves as the administrative assistant in Investigative Services, where she is an integral member of the team and epitomizes professionalism.

She carries a positive, energetic attitude and is always willing to lend a hand to help those who need it—in and outside the office.

Broad regularly volunteers her time to multiple York Regional Police endeavours. She has been a member of the Ceremonial Mounted Unit for eight years and collects gifts for families in need during the Holiday Heroes campaign.

Broad is a superhero to her colleagues, but also to children in the community. She has worn the York Unity costume for the last three years, regularly attending events to connect with our region’s youngest citizens.

Learn more about Broad's many contributions to YRP and the community by watching the video. 

Grade 5 Student Amanah Datoo

When Amanah Datoo wakes up, she has the intention of making the most of every day, and that’s exactly what she did on her day as Chief of York Regional Police.

Amanah is a Grade 5 student at German Mills Public School in Markham. When she heard about the Chief For a Day essay contest, the ideas came rushing to her.

“My mind went into overdrive with all the words and sentences I wanted to share answering the question of what Deeds Speak means to me,” she said.

Each year, hundreds of Grade 5 students submit an essay for the Chief For a Day essay contest.

Out of hundreds of submissions, Amanah and nine other children were selected and bravely delivered their essays in front of a panel of judges.

Ultimately, Amanah’s thoughtful essay and her optimistic attitude secured her the top job for a day.

Learn more about Amanah and how she spent her day as YRP top cop. 

YRCCS seeks to assist those in need help in finding resources, safety and hope. It offers a one-stop spot for survivors to receive the support they require.

YRCCS offers a number of supports including, crisis intervention such as shelters, prevention supports such as income subsidy supports and education programs.

It also offers special priority housing intervention supports such as Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program and basic universal human service supports such as education, hospitals, public health and transportation.

VSY provides emotional support, practical assistance, information and referrals to those in need.

The agency offers a number of programs including on-scene response, the victim quick response program, the homicide survivor support group, the suicide bereavement support group, telephone crisis response and more.