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Toronto Police Officer of the Year award winner

May 11, 2023, Toronto, Ont. – On Thursday, May 11, 2023, Toronto Police Service members were recognized at the 56^th Annual Police Excellence Awards. The Police Excellence Awards recognize and pay tribute to devoted, brave and compassionate members of the Toronto Police Service who are committed to making Toronto one of the safest and most livable cities in the world.

For the Police Excellence Awards, each officer or group of officers are selected based on the criteria of bravery, humanitarianism, superior investigative work and outstanding police skills. The Police Officer of the Year is selected from this group. The criteria for the Civilian Excellence Awards includes demonstrated diligence, dedication, initiative and/or leadership, which has improved the administration or operation of the Service and/or positively impacted the community.

This year’s winner of the 56^th Annual Police Officer of the Year Award is Police Constable Igor Zdrazhko. Just after midnight on Sep. 10, 2022, PC Zdrazhko, who was off-duty, stopped at a plaza near Morningside Avenue and Staines Road to get some food after his shift. He saw two men walking around the plaza, looking into cars, and heading towards a nearby gas station. When he heard yelling and saw the two men run away, PC Zdrazhko pursued them on foot, jumping a fence and chasing them into a dark open field. Despite being shot at, PC Zdranzhko caught up to one of the men, tackled him to the ground, and arrested him using the only police equipment he had with him – a pair of handcuffs. PC Zdrankhko was recognized for his keen observational kills, his unrelenting commitment to duty, and his brave and selfless efforts to keep the city safe.

At the event, Fleet and Materials Management Group Leader Randall Brenham was honoured with the Civilian Excellence Award for his unwavering dedication and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Normally charged with outfitting TPS members with uniforms and equipment, Randall was tasked with the enormous and unprecedented responsibility of sourcing, purchasing, inventorying, and distributing all the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required by Service members to keep them and the public safe. The 25-year veteran took on the assignment with his usual professionalism, and worked with Service Units and City partners over the course of two years to coordinate this enormous effort and create long-term strategies to source supplies.