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Niagara Regional Police Service’s Constable Mitch Dumont & Constable Frank Elia Awarded the 2026 OACP Excellence in Indigenous Community Collaboration Award
For Immediate Release: June 4, 2026
(Niagara, ON) – The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) is pleased to announce that Constable Mitch Dumont and Constable Frank Elia of the Niagara Regional Police Service are the recipients of the 2026 OACP Excellence in Indigenous Community Collaboration Award.
This award recognizes individuals, teams, or organizations that have demonstrated a meaningful and sustained commitment to collaboration with Indigenous peoples and advanced reconciliation through leadership, action, and accountability that reflect long-term relationship-building grounded in respect, trust, and shared purpose.
Constable Dumont and Constable Elia were nominated as a team in recognition of their joint exceptional service, unwavering dedication, and profound contributions to the Niagara Regional Police Service and its Indigenous communities. Although the Indigenous Liaison Officer (ILO) positions were formally established in 2023, both Constables Dumont and Elia have long been the service’s trusted and respected points of contact for Indigenous matters. Their leadership, cultural knowledge, and commitment have shaped the foundation of the ILO program and set a standard of excellence for others to follow.
In 2025, their roles became critically important as Niagara Falls hosted 5,147 evacuees from seven Indigenous communities displaced by severe flooding and widespread wildfires across Northern Ontario and Manitoba. With only three days’ notice before the arrival of the first evacuees, Constables Dumont and Elia rapidly mobilized, drawing on years of experience and established relationships to ensure a safe, culturally respectful, and supportive environment for all community members.
Understanding the complexities of relocating isolated, fly-in communities to a large urban centre, they worked closely with Indigenous leaders and Elders to ease the transition. They navigated sensitive cultural considerations, including supporting community driven decisions around alcohol restrictions within hotels, and helped mitigate tensions arising from the need to house different communities separately. Their ability to build trust, communicate with compassion, and respond with cultural awareness was instrumental in maintaining safety and stability during a prolonged and challenging evacuation period.
Throughout the operation, Constables Dumont and Elia collaborated with specialized NRPS units, including the Child Abuse Unit, Sexual Assault Unit, Domestic Violence Unit, and Human Trafficking Unit, to ensure that incidents were addressed swiftly and appropriately. They coordinated events, outings, and community building opportunities, working alongside emergency management partners to help evacuees feel supported, engaged, and connected while far from home.
Beyond the evacuation response, Constables Dumont and Elia have been deeply involved in the NRPS Strategic Plan and in developing meaningful community engagement initiatives with Indigenous youth, adults, Elders, and Two Spirited community members. Their work has strengthened relationships, enhanced cultural understanding within the service, and reinforced the service’s commitment to reconciliation and community-oriented policing.
The tireless efforts of Constable Dumont and Elia ensured that thousands of displaced individuals were able to reside safely in Niagara Falls and ultimately return home once the danger had passed. Their professionalism, compassion, and dedication exemplify the highest standards of policing.
This annual award is made possible by the generous support from the Thunder Bay Police Service.
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For more information, contact:
Dr. José Luís (Joe) Couto
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Research, and Corporate Communications
C. (416) 919-9798
E. media@oacp.ca
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The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police is the Voice of Ontario’s Police Leaders
Members of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police serve their communities as the senior police leaders in municipal, regional, provincial, national, and Indigenous police services across Ontario
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