Three local RCMP officers received royal honours this week for their outstanding contributions to the community.
Inspector Kevin Murray, Const. Janice Schoepp and Auxiliary Const. Terry Cipwnyk were honoured with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medals Wednesday at West Edmonton Mall.
“Nationally, the RCMP were given 2,300 medals and they were to be distributed amongst the regular and civilian members,” said Doris Stapleton, RCMP media relations officer and award recipient.
There were more than 300 recipients in Alberta, and all were nominated by a peer and selected by an RCMP K Division selection panel. Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor Donald S. Ethell presented the medals.
The medals were created to mark the 60-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II and are handed to RCMP officers nominated for their outstanding contributions to both their work and community.
Schoepp has been an RCMP school resource officer for roughly nine years, half of which has been in St. Albert.
“I was really surprised. I received a message saying I had received this and I had no idea that I’d even been nominated,” she said.
Fellow officers nominated her for the work she has done regarding asset development and working with youth.
“I consider it quite an honour,” Schoepp said. “It’s always nice when you can take time and reflect on it and think that someone recognized you’re doing good work and you’re putting in an effort.”
The ceremony was extra sweet for her as she was able to celebrate the accomplishment with her brother, an RCMP officer who was also presented with a medal.
While Murray was honoured at the ceremony, he has yet to receive his medal as it stems from the work he did in Port Alice, B.C., where he was posted before moving here.
He has been a member of the RCMP for nearly 24 years and recently began his post in St. Albert — he came here in April to be appointed inspector July 26.
“It was basically as a result of just a number of community activities I was involved in there,” he said. “It’s certainly an honour to be able to get the award.”
No date has been set for when his award ceremony will take place.
Murray also received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee medal in 2002, which marked the queen’s 50th anniversary, in relation to his work in Kimberley, B.C.
Cipwnyk was one of 64 auxiliary constables recognized across the country.
Auxiliary constables volunteer their time to work alongside RCMP members with general duties and promoting community-based policing.
A handful of former St. Albert RCMP officers also received medals at the ceremony, including Supt. Warren Dosko, who served St. Albert for nearly five years before being transferred to Red Deer in November 2011.
Other officers include Inspector Dan Konowalchuk, Cpl. Mike Moulds, Const. Vincent Roy and Cpl. Ted Soltys.
Roy worked at the St. Albert detachment for 14 months before being posted to his hometown in Bromont, Que. He was killed Dec. 2, 2011 when his police cruiser was clipped by a cube van while conducting a traffic stop.
A total of 60,000 Canadians will be presented with the medals by the end of the year of celebrations.
