Canadian Banks’ Law Enforcement Award

Every year the Canadian Banks' Law Enforcement Award recognizes outstanding police performance in fighting crime against Canadian banks. Recipients of this prestigious award have gone above and beyond the call of duty while preventing and investigating crimes against Canada's financial institutions.

Since 1972, the Canadian Bankers Association has awarded over 300 Canadian police officers. The Award is presented annually at a formal ceremony at the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

Protecting the security and safety of its employees and customers is a priority for the Canadian banking industry. Crimes affecting our banks range from robbery to high tech and highly organized fraud operations. Together our financial institutions and law enforcement agencies continue to partner in combating crime every day.

For more information on how you can help protect yourself from financial crime, click here.

Eligibility

The awards are presented to all active sworn members of law enforcement (active duty at the time of the incident), including Special Constables and sworn auxiliary Peace Officers.

The CBLEA is the highest award presented by the CBA to a sworn member of law enforcement (includes Special Constables and sworn auxiliary Peace Officers) for exceptional, achievement in an investigation involving the banking industry.¹ This would include acts of bravery, courage and demonstrated resourcefulness in order to overcome investigative obstacles and extenuating circumstances to bring an investigation to a successful conclusion.

This award can be presented to an Individual or Group (Team). The criteria for nominations are as follows:

Individual: This award is presented to a member of law enforcement for a unique investigation (not just high profile) involving the banking industry. The officer has displayed exceptional diligence to overcome obstacles and extenuating circumstances. This award may also be presented in cases where the officer knowingly placed themselves at great risk (threat of serious bodily harm or death, imminent danger etc.) during the protection of life involving a bank employee, customer or bank property.

Group (Team): This award is presented to sworn members of Law Enforcement (includes sworn auxiliary Peace Officers) working in a group/taskforce/team investigation involving the banking industry. The results of the investigation (Project) demonstrate exemplary performance in overcoming extraordinary circumstances resulting in a successful conclusion to the investigation. Examples could include investigations for Robbery against a Bank (Branch) where employees and customers may be at risk, or fraudulent acts against a Bank or Banks, by an organized criminal group.

For more information about the criteria for the CBLEA and the nomination form, please click here.

2024 Honourees

Detective Constable Chris Devereux, 32 Division – Toronto Police Service (Individual Award)

In January 2024, Detective Constable Chris Devereux led a cross-jurisdictional investigation that resulted in the arrest of two suspects involved in a scheme to defraud businesses across Canada. The investigation began when multiple companies in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), as well as across Ontario and British Columbia, reported receiving fraudulent emails requesting payment for false invoices and directing them to update their banking details – only to later discover funds had already been stolen.

Working alongside the Abbotsford Police Department, Guelph Police Service, and the Ontario Provincial Police Cybercrime Investigations Team, Det. Const. Devereux played a key role in identifying and tracking the suspects. In April 2024, one suspect was arrested by Canada Border Services Agency and charged with Fraud, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, and Possession of Credit Cards Obtained by Crime. A second suspect was later charged with Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, Fraud, Use of Credit Cards Obtained by Crime, and Laundering Proceeds of Crime.

Det. Const. Devereux’s leadership was instrumental in dismantling a sophisticated fraud operation that targeted Canadian businesses and financial institutions.

Left to right: Ryan Ku, Director, Financial Crimes, CBA; Detective Constable Chris Devereux, Toronto Police Service; Anthony G. Ostler, President & CEO, CBA

Sûreté du Québec, Québec – (Group Award)

Service de la police de la Ville de Montréal
Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil
RCMP

In 2023, the Sûreté du Québec launched Project RUER, a 16-member joint task force composed of officers from the Sûreté du Québec, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, the Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil, and the RCMP. The task force was created to address and dismantle a major “false representative” fraud scheme targeting seniors across Canada, with a particular focus on Quebec.

The RUER team played a vital role in identifying suspects and establishing a new model for collaboration between law enforcement and the public/private sectors during the investigations. Through strategic partnership with Quebec’s major financial institutions, the task force facilitated timely exchange of information on false representative frauds.

As a result, more than 250 plainclothes and uniformed police officers conducted 22 coordinated searches across Quebec and Ontario. The operation led to 28 arrests and cease-and-desist orders issued to disrupt the fraud network.

This joint initiative not only disrupted a major fraud operation but also established new best practices for multi-sector collaboration, setting a new benchmark to support future investigations.

Left to right: Ryan Ku, Director, Financial Crimes, CBA; Lieutenant Jean-François Lévesque-Delaunais, Sûreté du Québec; Constable Robert Vaillancourt, RCMP; Sergeant Kevin Bergeron, Sûreté du Québec; Detective Sergeant Pierre Chaput, Longueuil Police Department; Detective Sergeant Stephanie Masson, SPVM; Anthony G. Ostler, President & CEO, CBA

¹ The banking industry includes domestic banks, foreign bank subsidiaries, full-service foreign bank branches and foreign bank lending branches operating in Canada. For a listing of CBA members: cba.ca/article/member-banks