Const. Chris Hayduk received an award last week for a crime prevention initiative he started up several years ago.
On Friday, May 8, Hayduk was honoured at the annual Solicitor General and Public Security Crime Prevention awards for Community Response to Urban Disorder (CRUD).
The program has been very successful in preventing crime.
This is what community policing is all about, says Acting Chief Norm Lipinski.
“In this case Const. Hayduk was the catalyst to rally the community in a positive direction with quantifiable results. I commend him for his enthusiasm and dedication to purpose,” says Lipinski.
The community-led CRUD program has helped residents take back the streets. A group of residents meets frequently to stroll down 118 Avenue, keeping an eye on its activities. The initiative has bonded the community and ignited the interest to keep the streets free of crime.
The program was initiated by Const. Chris Hayduk, a 10-year member of the EPS, who gives his time to the initiative outside his duties as a police officer. He came up with the idea when he worked in the Derelict Housing Unit. He wanted the residents to take interest in what was happening in their neighbourhood and to become a positive influence on the area.
“It was exciting to get receive an award, but completely unexpected,” says Hayduk, who lives in the 118 Avenue area himself.
The 118 Avenue community has been actively involved in CRUD since 2006. Hayduk has been approached by other city communities wanting help in organizing similar programs.
Alberta Crime Prevention Week runs until May 16.
written by Patrycia Thenu