News
OPP officer receives Police Leadership award

March 12, 2014

Markham, ON – Sergeant Marty Roy Singleton, a 15 year veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police, has been selected as this year’s recipient of Blue Line Magazine’s Police Leadership Award.

This award recognizes and encourages a standard of excellence that exemplifies “Leadership as an Activity not a Position,” and pride in service to the public. Its goal is to increase the effectiveness, influence and quality of Canadian police situational leadership from both an organizational and community perspective.

The five judge panel concluded that Sgt. Singleton epitomized the best qualities of leadership in police work having worked tirelessly with residents and fellow officers throughout the vast territory that is the North West region of Ontario. His influence, grounded in actions, speaks to his character, his genuine interest in the welfare of people, his competence as a police officer and his willingness to step forward no matter how daunting a challenge.

Sgt. Singleton is the Provincial Liaison Team (PLT) regional co-ordinator, responsible for overseeing the program in the OPP North West Region. The 16-member team is dispersed throughout the region at various detachments doing operational duties and available to assist when the need arises. The PLT program is a proactive component of police preparedness and response to major events and critical incidents, principally focused on communication and conflict resolution.

Sgt. Singleton’s leadership is evident as a PLT officer coach and mentor, his continual work to build and solidify community partnerships with aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities, with other police services, municipal leaders and community groups.

AWARD BACKGROUNDER

Open to active Canadian police officers below the rank of senior officer, Blue LineMagazine’s Police Leadership Award is bestowed annually upon those who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to service through deeds resulting in a measurable benefit to their peers, police service and community.

The Police Leadership Award was first bestowed in 1999 when it was instituted by the Canadian Police Leadership Forum. This group, with continual support and sponsorship from Blue Line Magazine, presented the award until 2005 when the organization ceased to exist. Blue Line Magazine once again took up the cause of recognizing notable police leaders in 2011 with a search across Canada for suitable candidates.

This past year a total of nine nominations from across Canada were submitted to the panel for consideration. At the start of February the sorting and grading began and on March 7th Sergeant Marty Roy Singleton, the 2014 award recipient, was announced.

JUDGES

This year’s judging panel was co-ordinated by former Toronto Police Inspector Michael Sale. Judges on the panel included: York Regional Police Chief (ret.) Armand LeBarge; Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner (ret.) Peter German; Halifax Regional Police Chief (ret.) Frank Beazley; Ontario Provincial Police Deputy Commissioner (ret.) Maurice Pilon.

FORMER RECIPIENTS

1999 – Superintendent Bud Bechdolt – Royal Canadian Mounted Police
2000 – Deputy Chief Robert Kerr – Toronto Police Service
2001 – Sergeant Barry Gordon – Cape Breton Regional Police
2002 – Inspector Robert Taylor – Vancouver Police Department
2003 – Chief Superintendent Kate Lines – Ontario Provincial Police
2004 – Chief Edgar MacLeod – Cape Breton Regional Police
2005 – Constable Ojo Tewogbade – Toronto Police Service
2010 – Sergeant John Harris – Hamilton Police Service
2011 – Detective Sergeant Duncan MacIntyre – York Regional Police Service
2012 – Constable Randy Wood – Halifax Regional Police
2014 – Sergeant Marty Roy Singleton – Ontario Provincial Police

The award will be presented to Sgt Singleton at a special ceremony to be held on April 29, 2014 at 7:00pm at the Blue Line Expo Awards Dinner at the Ajax Convention Centre, 550 Beck Crescent, Ajax, ON.