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Ottawa Police Service Sergeant Craig Roberts Awarded the 2026 OACP Traffic Safety Excellence Award
For Immediate Release: June 4, 2026
(Niagara, ON) – The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) is pleased to award the 2026 OACP Traffic Safety Excellence Award to Sergeant Craig Roberts of the Ottawa Police Service.
This award is presented to an individual or police organization that creates, develops, and implements a highly successful traffic safety program in Ontario.
Sergeant Roberts began his career in the Traffic Unit in 2004 and quickly became a recognized leader in intersection-safety and red-light enforcement. Early in his career, he laid more than 4,400 red-light charges, addressing high-risk driving behaviours and improving compliance at some of the city’s busiest intersections. His work demonstrated that focused enforcement, paired with public awareness, can produce meaningful changes in driver behaviour.
Throughout his career, Sergeant Roberts has championed initiatives that combine enforcement with education and community engagement. His leadership in campaigns such as Don’t Block the Box – Ottawa! tackled dangerous intersection congestion in the downtown core. By pairing targeted enforcement with clear public messaging, the initiative improved compliance and reinforced the importance of safe and responsible driving.
Sergeant Roberts has also demonstrated exceptional leadership during complex and nationally significant events. He served as Traffic Coordinator within the Unified Command Centre during a large-scale demonstration on Parliament Hill and later coordinated traffic operations during the visit of U.S. former President Barack Obama, ensuring safe and seamless movement during high-profile security operations.
His commitment to policing extends beyond Canada, as Sergeant Roberts deployed to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from 2011-2012 on a United Nations peacekeeping mission, where he mentored local police officers and shared his expertise in escort and motorcade operations, contributing to the development of policing capacity in a challenging environment.
In recent years, Sergeant Roberts has continued to lead innovative and data-driven approaches to traffic enforcement. Recognizing increasing demands on policing resources, he introduced the Enhanced Integrated Enforcement Deployment Model, directing officers to high-risk locations based on collision and complaint data. This strategic approach significantly increased Highway Traffic Act enforcement from approximately 19,000 charges in 2023 to more than 26,000 in 2025.
He also led the multi-agency initiative #ResidentsMatter, bringing together municipal partners, prosecutors, neighbouring police services, and community leaders to address street racing and dangerous driving in residential neighbourhoods. Over two summer enforcement periods, the initiative resulted in more than 1,700 charges, including nearly 200 stunt driving offences, delivering tangible improvements in neighbourhood safety.
Through sustained leadership, innovation, and measurable results, Sergeant Craig Roberts has strengthened road safety, built community trust, and demonstrated practices that can serve as a model for police services across Ontario.
This annual award is made possible by the generous support from the
Canadian Automobile Association South Central Ontario.
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#OACP2026
#HarnessingPolicingExcellence
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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