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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-11-10, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016. PAGE 11. Blyth's Stewart named Police Officer of the Year Honoured Tyler Stewart, second from left, a Blyth native was named Huron County's Police Officer of the Year last week by Huron County Council. Stewart received his Warden's Emergency Services Award at council's Nov. 2 meeting where he was joined with many members of his immediate and extended family. From left: Ontario Provincial Police Inspector Jason Younan, Stewart, Warden Paul Gowing, Chief Administrative Officer Brenda Orchard. (Shawn Loughlin photo) By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Blyth native Tyler Stewart has been named this year's Police Officer of Year, winning the Warden's Emergency Services Award honour at the Nov. 2 meeting of Huron County Council. Stewart joins a long list of local officers honoured with the award, including Russell Nesbitt, Lincoln Dinning and the late Vu Pham. Stewart, the son of Don "Barney" and Linda, now lives in Goderich, but he was born and raised in Blyth. He says he had wanted to be a police officer for as long as he can remember, likely when he was about three or four years old. Stewart said his grandfather and one of his uncles were police officers and they proved to be strong role models that really made him want to also wear the badge. Barney remembers early family visits to North Bay and Tyler's uncle taking the young boy to the police station and showing him police cruisers. He knew then that his son had eyes for a career in policing. Tyler soon began on the path to becoming a police officer, attending community college in London before taking a job in the offender transport unit, viewing it as a stepping stone to a career as a police officer. Serving his community The late Steve Cooke, former fire chief for the Central Huron Fire Department, was honoured last week by Huron County Council with the Warden's Emergency Services Award for Firefighter of the Year. Cooke died in 2015 after losing his battle with cancer. During his 32 - year career, however, Cooke worked extensively throughout Huron County to promote training and volunteered his services throughout the province, always championing the work of Huron County's volunteer firefighters. Pictured alongside Warden Paul Gowing and Chief Administrative Officer Brenda Orchard are members of the Cooke family who were on hand to receive the award at council's Nov. 2 meeting in Goderich. (Shawn Lou gni;n photo) Those early days in that unit, Stewart said in an interview with The Citizen, taught him about the shifts and professionalism associated with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). It wasn't long before he began his career as a constable with the OPP and began playing out his dream in his career. There was a transition, he said, as he learned more about the shifts that are common to a life in policing, as well as the paperwork, but he said he immediately loved the work. Stewart said he soon gravitated towards drug enforcement in Huron County, saying he found it to be a growing problem in the area. He also said that drugs don't affect any specific sector of people. Whether rich or poor, male or female, urban or rural, drugs are a factor in a number of lives throughout Huron County. He was named the county's member on the Community Drug Action Team and was instrumental in an operation that saw millions of dollars worth of illegal drugs taken off the streets. The case took over two years to make. "Overall I feel that we reduced the amount of drugs that were available, specifically methamphetamines," Stewart said. He knew, however, that his days on the team would come to an end, as it was a project with an end - date. Stewart then looked ahead to the next step of his career and, for the first time, left Huron County professionally and took a job with the organized crime unit, working out of London. While Stewart is just getting started in his new role, he says he feels it was a positive step for him, even though he had to leave Huron County to make it. When Stewart was told he was going to be honoured with the award, he said he was very happy, especially knowing that he had been nominated by his fellow officers. He also felt as though his family, who has supported him all along the way, was also winning the award. Barney, Stewart's father, said that while he and Linda are proud of Tyler, he wasn't surprised when he heard he was receiving the honour. "He's always worked so hard. It's really been his passion," Barney said, adding that when Tyler has put his mind to something, he's always been able to achieve it. "Nothing really surprises us with him." Also honoured with Warden's Emergency Services Awards this year were David Wagner, a Huron County paramedic and member of the Fire Department of North Huron, and the late Steve Cooke, former fire chief of the Central Huron Fire Department. Cooke passed away in 2015. cot 1 Share your news by placing your announcement in The Citizen Call for pricing & details 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 PHOTO OF THE DAY Let us know what is happening in your area by emailing a picture for possible inclusion on our website's "Picture of the Day". Please include a small caption about the picture. Visit our website at northhuron.on.ca - maybe your picture will be the PHOTO OF THE DAY! Email submissions to: reporter@northhuron.on.ca