Sometimes the greatest heroes are those who achieve the biggest victories while never seeing the spotlight.
On Tuesday, several individuals and groups were officially recognized at the Belleville Police Services Board meeting.
One of those was a Chief’s Commendation for everyone at the Belleville Police Service who helped solve a high-profile crime that went unsolved for more than two decades.
A 13-year jail sentence was handed down last year in connection with a violent sexual assault at the Ramada during the Waterfront Festival in July of 2000.
The case was the subject of an extensive investigation involving many officers over more than two decades. In fact, two generations of the same police family in Belleville worked on that case from the first day to the last.
It was also one of the first cases in the city to be solved with the use of Investigative Genetic Genaelogy, a fascinating process that compares DNA not only to a suspect but to members of that suspects family tree.
Echoing Chief Murray Rodd’s sentiments as he awarded the Commendation, I would like to again thank the combined efforts of detectives, forensic specialists, sworn officers, civilian personnel,
and external partners who helping solve this case.
Justice delayed is often justice denied, but in this case it still arrived thanks to your perseverance and tenacity. Your names aren’t on the commendation, but you are all heroes in my book.
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.
