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Staff Sergeant Steve Bereziuk & Detective Kyle Jarvie, Hamilton Police Service, Awarded the 2026 OACP/AGCO Award for Outstanding Investigation
For Immediate Release: June 4, 2026
(Niagara, ON) – Staff Sergeant Steve Bereziuk and Detective Kyle Jarvie, Hamilton Police Service have been awarded the 2026 Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario’s Award for Outstanding Investigation.
This award is presented to the police agency and/or individual who demonstrates excellence and innovation through their work in alcohol, gaming, horse racing, and/or in the cannabis retail sectors.
Staff Sergeant Bereziuk and Detective Jarvie were honoured for their work in a comprehensive joint forces investigation which resulted in the permanent closure of two notorious downtown nightlife establishments, Club 33 and Sankofa Lounge, restoring peace and safety to Hamilton’s historic Corktown neighborhood. Following the successful enforcement actions, the property was listed for sale in 2025, marking the final chapter for the problematic venues.
For an extended period, Club 33 and Sankofa Lounge operated in blatant violation of local laws, including operating without valid business licenses and consistently breaching the Liquor Licence Control Act (LLCA). The venues became focal points for severe violence in Hamilton’s downtown core. Hamilton Police responded to 85 emergency calls for service at or near the locations, including assaults, disturbances, and three separate shootings. Notably, 33 of these calls occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., hours when the venues were legally required to be closed.
The turning point came in August 2024, when Detective Jarvie spearheaded a joint forces operation alongside Municipal Law Enforcement (MLE) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Detective Jarvie executed LLCA warrants and seizure orders, uncovering evidence of opioid use and trafficking inside the premises. The operation resulted in an immediate liquor license suspension and numerous LLCA charges.
To ensure a permanent resolution, Detective Sergeant Bereziuk authored a comprehensive affidavit detailing the ongoing public safety risks. This critical evidence secured a Superior Court injunction against Club 33, which had continued to operate unlawfully. Facing insurmountable legal pressure, Club 33 officially announced its closure in September 2024, choosing not to contest the injunction or the LLCA tribunal findings. Sankofa Lounge shuttered its doors permanently shortly after.
The timely intervention mitigated a severe risk to the public and responding officers, specifically protecting the influx of post-secondary students returning to nearby downtown residences for the fall academic term. Since the closures, police reports indicate a total cessation of calls to these locations, yielding a drastic reduction in crime and disorder in the surrounding area. The decisive leadership of Detective Jarvie and Detective Sergeant Bereziuk underscores the Hamilton Police Service’s unwavering commitment to holding unlawful businesses accountable and ensuring community safety.
This annual award is made possible by the generous support of
The Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario.
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#OACP2026
#LegacyInnovationService
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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