Officers Honoured for Rescuing Missing Girl
After a teenage girl was reported missing last year, a team of Toronto officers quickly determined that she had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted by locating and interviewing friends, family and utilizing online investigative techniques to gather clues.
The team of Toronto Police officers who helped reunite the missing girl with her family were recognized with a Teamwork Award at the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement (OWLE) annual awards on May 1.
“This was true teamwork led by the core group of officers at 52 Division that helped to find that child. We joined the job to help citizens and this truly was a great example of how officers came together from different units to rescue this child,” said Staff Sergeant Sheraz Arshad, who nominated the team for the award.
During early hours of the morning on the day of this incident, the investigators in 52 Division determined that this child had been kidnapped. Shortly after, information was uncovered that led police to believe the child was being sexually assaulted. This included sexually explicit videos of the missing young girl sent through several social media accounts to a friend of the girl.
Investigators learned that she was last seen in the company of two males, one of whom was reportedly carrying a silver firearm.
The investigators narrowed their search for the victim and utilized online investigative strategies to determine a possible address. Primary Response officers from 43 Division and the Emergency Task Force were used to gain entry to an apartment, finding the victim and arresting a suspect. The 52 Division Major Crime Unit executed a search warrant, locating and seizing a silver firearm.
The core team of investigators and responders comprised Sergeants Andrea Dagonas and William Andrew, Detectives Tracey Hutchings and David Bilby, Constables David Nissan, Elyar Babayev, Kendra Carder, Sam Fermo, , Chally Phan, David Major, Brian Carswell, Steph Heroux, Wendell Galapon, Michael Muir, Theodore Tompras, Matthew Allard and Robert Gundert.
“I thank everyone involved in this investigation who helped locate the victim and unite her with her family,” said Dagonas, who is a Sergeant at 52 Division. “When the call came in, our CIB investigators and our Primary Response and Major Crime Unit officers worked together without hesitation to end the situation as quickly as possible. We thank Toronto Police for fostering a co-operative work environment and OWLE for acknowledging us.”
Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue said teamwork in policing is crucial for effectively addressing crime, maintaining public safety, and providing assistance to the community.
“We have had so many nominations this year and we are excited for our group that won this Teamwork Award,” she said. “It highlighted the incredible work between 52 and 43 Divisions, our Cybercrime Unit and the Emergency Task Force in bringing a terrible situation to a quick conclusion, ultimately rescuing a young girl.”
Sergeant Joanne Tawton, who retired this year after 44 years on the job, was recipient of the Heritage Award.
She was a founding member of OWLE in 1996.
Long Service Awards were also presented at the event.
Superintendent LeeAnn Papizewski, the 42 Division Unit Commander, was recognized for 35 years of service.
