Sanchuk taking on new role at OPP West Region headquarters

const. Ed Sanchuk, the popular and highly-visible community services officer for the Norfolk County OPP, has been promoted and is moving to a new position at the OPP’s West Region headquarters in London.

Sanchuk will become the sergeant of the OPP’s community service programs in West Region, which covers most of southwestern Ontario including Oxford, Haldimand, Norfolk and Brant counties to Tobermory in the north and Essex in in the southwest.

“It’s quite a large portfolio but I’m really looking forward to the challenge,” Sanchuk said.

In his new role, Sanchuk will oversee the school resource officer, community mobilization, community safety programs as well as media relations. He begins his new position at the end of May.

Sanchuk has served as Norfolk OPP’s community services officer since 2010 and during that time has built a lot of relationships with people and groups throughout the community. He also established a strong social media presence and used Twitter and Facebook to deliver safety messages and news – good and bad – to the community.

“It has truly been an honor to serve the people of Norfolk County,” Sanchuk said. “I’ve been a police officer for 24 years and the support that I’ve seen has been phenomenal.

“I’ve had the opportunity to build a lot of great relationships and I hope show people that, at the end of the day, we as police officers are just like the people we serve.”

Sanchuk, a member of the Brantford Police Service prior to joining the OPP, said he can’t thank the community enough for the support he has received over the years.

Although Sanchuk is leaving the Norfolk OPP detachment for a new position in West Region headquarters, he and his family will continue to live in Norfolk County.

“Norfolk County, for me, is home,” Sanchuk said. “I truly appreciate all that our county has to offer.

“I just want to remind everyone to continue looking after each other and if you see anything suspicious remember to call the OPP because we want to keep the community safe.”

Norfolk County Mayor Amy Martin said Sanchuk will be missed and wished him well as he takes on a new role.

“He has done an excellent job of building relationships through a lot of different partnerships as well as with community members,” Martin said. “He attended a lot of events and happenings in the community representing both the OPP and Norfolk County well.

“He was everywhere and did an excellent job of representing Norfolk County in good times and bad.”

Plans call for the OPP to name a new community services officer for Norfolk by way of a press release at a future date.

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