OPP Detective Sergeant Steve Coburn
Polygraph Unit, Investigation and Support Bureau
2020 IODE Ontario Police Community Relations Award
Detective Sergeant (D/Sgt) Steve Coburn has been a member of the Ontario Provincial Police Polygraph Unit since 2009. In this capacity, he is responsible for interviewing people from all walks of life whether they are victims of criminal acts or perpetrators of society's most heinous crimes. D/Sgt Coburn is known for treating all interviewees with respect and compassion - regardless of their circumstances.
D/Sgt Coburn sees first-hand the perpetual relationship between poverty, low educational achievement and encounters with the justice system. These conditions impose a considerable financial burden on social support systems in addition to exacting great personal costs. Upon learning that childhood nutrition dramatically improves these social outcomes, D/Sgt Coburn was inspired to fight food insecurity in his community. An avid runner, he created a fundraising race and the Compass Run for Food was born. In June 2014, the first Compass Run for Food hosted approximately 200 runners. In 2019, race day included over 770 runners and 200 kids from the local schools in Dufferin County. The Compass Run for Food has become a much-anticipated annual community event.
To date, D/Sgt Coburn has led the Compass Run for Food organizing team through six races. Between 2014 and 2019, Compass Run for Food gave $186,000 directly to all three local food banks and six elementary school breakfast programs in Dufferin County. After this year's race (2020), the organizing team expects to have directed a quarter million dollars toward fighting food insecurity in their community.
D/Sgt Coburn recently completed a three-month community-based assignment in a West Region OPP detachment. His drive to interact with community has him, looking toward the next chapter of his career at a detachment where he can become even more involved in community initiatives.
Detective Sergeant Steve Coburn is a natural leader with integrity and empathy for the members of the communities he serves. He has made a significant impact on his community that will make a lasting and positive difference.
D/Sgt Coburn sees first-hand the perpetual relationship between poverty, low educational achievement and encounters with the justice system. These conditions impose a considerable financial burden on social support systems in addition to exacting great personal costs. Upon learning that childhood nutrition dramatically improves these social outcomes, D/Sgt Coburn was inspired to fight food insecurity in his community. An avid runner, he created a fundraising race and the Compass Run for Food was born. In June 2014, the first Compass Run for Food hosted approximately 200 runners. In 2019, race day included over 770 runners and 200 kids from the local schools in Dufferin County. The Compass Run for Food has become a much-anticipated annual community event.
To date, D/Sgt Coburn has led the Compass Run for Food organizing team through six races. Between 2014 and 2019, Compass Run for Food gave $186,000 directly to all three local food banks and six elementary school breakfast programs in Dufferin County. After this year's race (2020), the organizing team expects to have directed a quarter million dollars toward fighting food insecurity in their community.
D/Sgt Coburn recently completed a three-month community-based assignment in a West Region OPP detachment. His drive to interact with community has him, looking toward the next chapter of his career at a detachment where he can become even more involved in community initiatives.
Detective Sergeant Steve Coburn is a natural leader with integrity and empathy for the members of the communities he serves. He has made a significant impact on his community that will make a lasting and positive difference.