Police “Chief for a Day” essay contest open for submissions from Pickering to Oshawa

Fifth graders from across Durham Region who want to be Police Chief for a day are now able to submit their essays on why they’re right for the service’s top job.

Durham Regional Police have run the Chief for a Day essay contest for the last 20 years, allowing kids to go behind the scenes to see police work firsthand. While the contest doesn’t officially launch until September, the service now accepts contestants’ essays.

The contest is open to all kids who will be in fifth grade in September 2023. The theme for submissions is “What would you do if you were the Chief of Police for a day?” All essays must be 500 words or less.

Later, in the fall, police will swing by schools to pick up the finalists. Then, the finalist will read their essays to a panel of judges including Durham’s new Chief Peter Moriera, members of the Durham Police Services Board and the Police Appreciation Dinner and Awards Night.

The winner will take the role of police chief for the day of Oct 17 and will be a guest at the appreciation dinner on Oct. 19.

Essays must include the student’s name, their school and city name and the name of their school board.

Last year’s winner was Whitby’s Gabriel Perruccio. He took the oath of office on Oct. 25 last year before serving with Traffic Services and Forensic Services. He then supervised a use of force demonstration and capped off his day with a helicopter ride around Whitby and over his school.