Three officers and the force’s chaplain were recognized by the Belleville Police Services board Thursday.

Sgt. Brad Stitt, Const. Chad Stein, Const. Jess McInroy and Padre Brad Beale all received recognitions from the board meeting at City Hall.

Chief Mike Callaghan said that especially with issues taking place in other parts of the world, he felt it was important for the force to recognize those who go above and beyond the call.

“I think it is incredibly important to recognize the officers and the excellent work they are doing,” he said. “Right now there is so much negative attention being drawn to our profession and what we are doing.

“I think it is important to reinforce the fact that we are doing a great job. These are not isolated incidents; these are the norm rather than the anomaly.”

Board chair Jack Miller stressed that while the board was recognizing a few of the force members on this day, it recognizes there are many other members doing noteworthy things every day.

“While we are recognizing a few today for their achievements there are many others who have done likewise,” he said. “We send out our thanks to them as well.”

Callaghan noted the “99 per cent of the time” officers deal with people in a way that doesn’t require force. However, the one per cent of the time tends to draw more attention than what usually happens.

He noted, in particular, an incident involving Stein that took place at Belleville General Hospital and involved a woman dealing with mental health issues.

Stein was praised by a representative of BGH for dealing with the situation peacefully rather than allowing the situation to escalate.

“It’s is important to recognize the relationship we have with our hospital and our other emergency service partners that we are working collaboratively together to make sure we diminish the potential of someone being injured,” he said.

In Stein’s case he was able to resolve the issue without harm and the female patient received the required medical attention. lo

A representative of BGH commended Stein for the way he dealt with the situation, noting how “calm and professional” Stein was.

Stitt was also commended by a police service partner agency, in this case a member of Quinte Paramedic Services regarding an incident involving a teenager wielding a knife.

The paramedic stated noted the incident was one where someone could easily have been shot, stabbed or otherwise injured. He stated Stitt’s “patience, empathy, compassion and skill set for handling this type of call was incredible.”

McInroy and Bax make up the city’s K-9 unit and the two were commended for their work not just in the city but in assisting with Belleville’s policing partners throughout the Quinte Region.

The K-9 unit, only formed in July, have already assisted in several large-scale drug investigations as well as assisting partners in Kingston, Quinte West and even the Canadian Border Service Agency.

Beale, who has been chaplain for two years, was commended for all the work he has been doing with force members, both professionally and personally.

“There are many times when Padre Beale has reached out to members who have experienced traumatic calls for services or may be experiencing some personal challenges,” Callaghan noted.

“Padre Beale does this confidentially and on his own, without prompting from our service … his work is having a profound impact on our members.”