Robert Keetch, Sault Ste. Marie Police Service chief, has uttered words of praise for two officers who helped a lady clear her driveway of snow.
The chief’s office received a complimentary letter Nov. 11 regarding the helpful actions of Cst. David Guizzetti and Cst. John McLean.
In a report to the Police Services Board dated Nov. 23, Keetch wrote “the author, who identified herself as a senior, wished to thank the involved officers for stopping to assist her with shovelling her driveway after the city had received its first heavy snowfall. She advised the officers assisted her cheerfully, chatting like kind neighbours and making her feel safe in a community with high standards in policing.”
“It’s a nice story,” Keetch told reporters after Thursday’s Police Services Board meeting.
“That’s why we bring these forward because in many instances there’s negative stuff that’s within the community but the positive stuff doesn’t necessarily get the same attention or doesn’t get noticed, but all of our officers do great work in this community and you see the impact it’s had on one elderly resident…I commend them for their activities.”
“They were on patrol and they noticed an elderly woman shovelling her driveway on the first snowfall.”
“They weren’t on a call for service. Everyone of us have mothers, everyone of us have or have had grandmothers, and I think they could relate to the struggles seniors have dealing with those issues, so they took the incentive to stop and assist her with her snow shovelling.”
“We don’t want to get into the core business of shovelling everybody’s driveway,” Keetch grinned, “but certainly we’re part of a community, and the letter the lady wrote, it’s very complimentary of these two particular officers and it reflects well on the police service, so I commend them for taking the initiative and assisting someone in need in our community.”
“We recognize officers initiative and activities on an annual basis and this is one that will potentially be considered for recognition… (perhaps) a Chief’s Coin.”
