Christopher Russell

Since graduating from the Police Foundations program in 2006, Christopher Russell has bravely served his country overseas and at home, continuing a lifelong dedication to protecting the freedom and safety of others. Before enrolling at Durham College, Russell spent his summers at the Department of National Defence, joining the ranks as a company cadet warrant officer at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden, Ont. in 2004 where he supervised 1,500 cadets while organizing field operations. In 2005, Russell achieved the rank of officer cadet with 1913 Ontario Regiment Army Cadet Corps with the Canadian Forces (Army) Reserve. Russell was responsible for weekly loop training and weekend training at CFBs across Ontario as well as the instruction, training and supervision of more than 150 youth in the 1913 Cadet Corps. Russell then joined the Canadian Forces Military Police in 2007 as a corporal and patrolman at CFB Petawawa, Ont. In September 2008, he was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan where he handled, processed and guarded detainees; escorted injured Afghans by medical air lift; and conducted forensic identification before being seconded to the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) for highly sensitive investigations. As a result of his work and service in Afghanistan, Russell was awarded the General Campaign Star Medal for service, the Sacrifice Medal for injuries sustained and the CFNIS Commanding Officers Commendation. Russell has provided his specialized services to the community, as a volunteer of more than 280 on-call hours and 20 hours of on-scene service for the Victim Services of Durham Region.