Three Timmins Police officers, including two who were awarded the province's top honours for policing this year, have resigned.
The Timmins Police Service board accepted the resignations of Sgt. Robin Carter, Const. Mark Lauzon and Const. Logan Ferrington at its Oct. 12 meeting.
All three are staying in policing and transitioning to OPP, said Timmins Police Chief Dan Foy.
“All three officers have been good employees and I want to thank them for their service to our community and to the service and to wish them well in the next chapters of their careers,” he said.
Carter and Lauzon are the recipients of the 2022 Ontario Medal for Police Bravery, the province's highest honour that's given to police officers. It's for a shooting incident that happened in 2020.
Carter has been with the Timmins Police for 22 years, starting in January 2001. Lauzon started as a special constable in 2008 and has been a constable for 12 years.
Ferrington's roles with the service started in 2018 as an auxiliary constable and later as a special constable. He has been a sworn constable for the last two years.
All three people have done exit interviews, said Foy.
In 2023, at least eight officers have resigned from Timmins Police, and one long-time constable also retired earlier this year.
This week's resignations bring the force's complement to 82 officers. That includes the recruits at the September intake of the Ontario Police College (OPC).
A direct hire from Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) is slated to start next week.
The police force is approved for 96 officers, but the highest it's ever been is 88.
This year, the board has been focused on recruiting — even offering a $30,000 incentive to attract experienced officers — and the province has opened up more training opportunities at the Ontario Police College, (OPC) which is training new recruits must pass to become a constable.
In 2024, there are four cohorts at OPC and Timmins Police is aiming to have people at each of the programs.
Deputy chief Henry Dacosta said Timmins Police hopes to have four people at the cadet recruit training in January.
At this week's meeting, the board also accepted the resignation of Leanna Moffat, who was slated to start as a full-time 911 communications clerk Oct. 10.
One new staffer was also hired. Liza Laverdure is starting as a clerk/steno next week.
