Callaghan, Meeks honoured by Order of the Police Forces

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Two of Belleville’s senior police officers, honoured with top policing decorations nationally, received a round of warm congratulations from city council on Tuesday.

Deputy Chief Mike Callaghan and Inspector Sherri Meeks were lauded for receiving high-station recognition from the Order of the Police Forces, said Belleville Police Chief Ron Gignac in a delegation to council.

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He said the order was founded in 2000 to recognize officers who display exemplary service in the course of their careers by going beyond the call of duty.

The order is made up three levels of recognition – commander, officer and member.

Gignac told council that being named to the order is a highly unique achievement with only one-tenth of one percent of police being recognized in Canada with such meritorious acclaim.

Callaghan was named as one of three across the country to be appointed Officer of the Order of Merit.

Meeks, meanwhile, was only one of 36 officers to be appointed Member, Order of the Police Forces.

Chief Gignac said Callaghan did extensive work for Ottawa Police in the last decade — prior to assuming his duties in Belleville — including working with a guns and gangs direct action response team to fight violence on the street.

Callaghan also served as an adviser to foreign affairs and was assigned to security details for international gatherings.

Chief Gignac said Callaghan, a Loyalist alumnus, has received as many as 70 decorations over his career.

Inspector Meeks has worked her entire career with Belleville Police Service and in that time has taken on a number of projects to make the Quinte community in which she was raised, safer, said Chief Gignac.

In addition to serving on a multitude of community boards, Meeks has served as a part-time instructor at Loyalist College, is a crisis and hostage negotiator and is the author of a recruitment field training guide for the police service, Gignac said.

Speaking to council, both Callaghan and Meeks attributed their success to family, noting that their support helped guide them through many years of challenging policing work.