Six new constables were welcomed to Greater Sudbury Police Service during Wednesday’s police board meeting, which kicked off with a swearing-in ceremony.
It’s not an easy job, Chief Paul Pedersen cautioned the newcomers, noting they’re charged with doing “more things for more people under increasing complexity, increasing scrutiny.”
“When all else fails, when other public services sleep, which is the only profession out there in all conditions, every single day, day in and day out? That’s our profession,” he added.
“We’re not only a service that’s available if you call, but we’re a service actively involved, actively working proactively and reactively so everyone can enjoy their lives safely.
“Oftentimes it seems the standard you’re going to be held to is a standard of perfection. That isn’t true. You’re held to a standard of putting your best foot forward day in and day out. This is a profession where there will always be naysayers, where there will always be someone that thinks they can do your job better than you. The reality is, none of those people ever applied, never mind making it through the exacting standards you did.”
It’s a “noble profession by noble people,” he said, citing the group of six as “some of the very few who have the privilege of representing your community in uniform.”
Const. Nicholas Rumford’s swearing-in was made extra special by the inclusion of his father, retired staff Sgt. Terry Rumford, pinning his badge. Born and raised in Sudbury, Nicholas initially pursued a career in physical therapy before switching gears toward policing to pursue his goal to “support his community and stay fit on the job.”
Const. Pedro Almeida Reis immigrated to Canada with his family from Portugal and served as a letter carrier for Canada Post before pursuing a career in policing.
Const. Christopher Doni was born and raised in Sudbury, received a bachelor’s degree in Law and Justice and a master’s degree in Criminology before joining Greater Sudbury Police Service as an analyst intern and shifting to Durham Regional Police.
Const. Alexander Mathias became interested in first responders as a result of his father’s work as a paramedic, earned a security diploma and got into fitness and health promotion before serving as a special constable for Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo.
Const. Sabrina Stalteri relocated to Sudbury in 2018, attended Durham College with a softball scholarship to study fitness and health promotion. Rather than continue work as a personal trainer, she decided to pursue policing, and began serving as a special constable with Greater Sudbury Police Service in 2021 and is studying Criminology.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
