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 in order 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.

2023 Honourees

Detective Constable Micheal Lane, Organized Crime Enforcement, Major Fraud Section – Toronto Police Service (Individual Award)

In 2020, Detective Constable Micheal Lane led Project FRIENDS and initiated an investigation involving a group of organized criminals based in the Greater Toronto Area. These suspected criminals were working to systematically defraud millions of dollars from targeted Canadian financial institutions.

Detective Constable Lane put together an asset forfeiture strategy and managed to identify shell companies used for laundering the proceeds and money mules used in Canada and internationally. His efforts with Project FRIENDS resulted in the arrest of seven people, 23 charges laid to date with two convictions so far, and the downfall of an illegal bitcoin mining farm. Additional criminal investigations and arrests continued.

His effort with this case has made a positive impact on the Canadian banking system and the country’s economy.

Saanich & Victoria Police Departments, British Columbia (Group Award)

Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team – GVERT
Saanich Police Department
Saanich Police C Platoon
Victoria Police Department – C Watch
BC Emergency Communications Services; E – Comm 911
BC Ambulance Service

In 2022, two armed suspects entered a Bank of Montreal branch in Saanich, B.C. and demanded cash. Twenty-two civilians, including staff and customers, were endangered. A nearby individual called 911 and the cry for help was attended by the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT). Officers from the Saanich and Victoria Police Departments protected the general public by cordoning off the area.

An exchange of gunfire resulted in the death of the two-armed suspects and injured six police officers. Trained medics of the GVERT provided lifesaving treatments.

A further investigation determined that the suspects’ vehicle contained a large amount of ammunition and explosives that could have caused more injuries or death. Officers from the Saanich and Victoria Police Departments, including the GVERT, Patrol Divisions, E – Comm Dispatch and BC Ambulance, risked their lives to protect their community.

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: www.cba.ca/memberbanks