Eight new constables were sworn into the Greater Sudbury Police Service during Wednesday’s police board meeting, including two couples.
The two couples include Kairene Alisappi and her partner Jeremiah Cooper, and Stephanie Sparks and her husband Michael Sparks. All four are experienced police officers from other jurisdictions.
“We talk about Greater Sudbury Police Service as a family, but we also recognize that outside of the police service are families as well, and when we can bring families into the family, it just makes us all feel better,” police Chief Paul Pedersen said.
The chief noted the new slate of eight candidates come from a diverse background, which he’s always enthused to see.
“It’s always an exciting time to bring new people into the organization, new energy, new ideas,” he said. “We look forward to having them help us serve our community.”
The Greater Sudbury Police Service authorized strength remains 272 sworn members. An additional two positions have been funded temporarily to increase their strength to 274. The eight new members sworn in on Wednesday replace outgoing members.
The debate regarding whether GSPS should add 24 members to their ranks within three years is ongoing, with nothing set in stone as yet. City council members are slated to vote in February on a motion the police board passed unanimously to begin ramping up their numbers.
The following are snippets from the introductions Deputy Chief Sara Cunningham read during Wednesday’s meeting for each new member.
- Const. Darcy Godin was born and raised in the French River area. Godin studied Fish and Wildlife at College Boreal, and Environmental Law at Sault College. He was previously employed as a park warden for Ontario Parks as well as a special constable for the OPP. His goal is to work in the rural unit where he can integrate his passion for the outdoors and natural resources with his career and use watercraft and ATVs in remote areas.
- Const. Alexandru Ivanov is Romanian, and came to Canada for a better quality of life for himself and his family. He graduated from Police Foundations and the Community and Justice Services program at Cambrian College, later earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminology at Laurentian University. He began his career at GSPS as a special constable in January 2021. He has a passion for educating youth and would like to work as a youth engagement officer in the future to improve the relationship between the police and youth in the community.
- Const. Patrick Whalen was born in Kitchener and has large family roots in Sudbury and Northern Ontario. His post-secondary studies have included a diploma in General Arts and Science from Conestoga College and multiple courses in mental health and community policing. He started his career with GSPS as a special constable in January 2022, and his goal is to work in the community response unit.
- Const. Kairene Alisappi was born in Cochrane and made Moose Factory her hometown. She now lives in Sudbury with her partner, Jeremiah Cooper, who also joined GSPS as an experienced officer. Alisappi studied Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa and later received a bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health Education at Nipissing University. She began her career as a jail guard with Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service in 2014, and later became a police constable in 2019. She has decided to continue her policing career at GSPS to provide a better work/life balance.
- Const. Jeremiah Cooper was born in Little Current and grew up in the area of Manitoulin and Sudbury. He now resides in the Sudbury area. His partner, Kairene Alisappi, was also sworn in as a GSPS constable. Cooper studied Police Foundations at Cambrian College and later graduated from Georgian College. He began his career as a security guard before becoming a police constable with Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service in 2019. He decided to continue his career at GSPS to have a better work/life balance. He believes that coming from an Indigenous background will help him inspire aboriginal youth in the community.
- Const. Michael Sparks graduated from Seneca College with a diploma in Police Foundations and is currently enrolled at Wilfrid Laurier University working toward his BA in policing. He began his career as a police constable with York Regional Police Service in 2012 and later joined the Timmins Police Service in 2017. He was also a member of the Canadian Armed Forces as a Master Corporal from 2006 to 2019, during which he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. He recently moved to the Sudbury area with his his wife, Stephanie Sparks, who also joined GSPS.
- Const. Stephanie Sparks graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Police Foundations and is currently enrolled at Wilfrid Laurier University studying Policing. She began her career as a security guard in 2014 before working as a correctional officer at Monteith in 2016. She became a police constable with the Timmins Police Service in 2018, and also has experience as an auxiliary constable with the OPP for the Rainy River / North Grenville / South Porcupine detachments. She recently moved to the Sudbury area with her husband, Michael Sparks, who also joined GSPS.
- Const. Marc-Andre Vaillancourt was born and raised in Sudbury. He graduated from the Geography program at Laurentian University in 2018. He was a summer student and worked part-time in the GSPS customer service branch, served as a special constable from 2016-21 and became a police constable with Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service in January 2021. He also volunteered as an auxiliary constable with GSPS from 2014 to 2020.
GSPS last welcomed a batch of new constables in September 2022, when six newcomers were sworn in.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
