Summerside constable named P.E.I.'s municipal police officer of the year for 2024

Const. Mallory Metallic's policing career has gone from a co-op program in high school in her home community of Listuguj First Nation in Gaspésie, Que., to the Major Crime Unit of Summerside's police department. 

Now, she's been named the 2024 Municipal Police Officer of the Year by P.E.I. Crime Stoppers. 

Her career path, however, has not been without its challenges. She put policing on hold while her son went through a major health challenge. 

"I have a son who was living in the hospital for about 10 to 12 years of his life. He was born without an immune system," Metallic said.

"We just got that word in 2024, that he is completely cured of his disease. I got cleared by his medical team and his staff and doctors — they encouraged my career choice."

In 2018, she trained at the Atlantic Police Academy in Summerside, then returned to the police department in Listuguj where she served for three years. 

When she saw a posting for Summerside Police Services, she jumped at the opportunity. She was hired in 2021, becoming the department's first Indigenous police officer. 

Metallic said it's important to her to bring aspects of her Indigenous culture into her workplace.

"My first year here was the first year that they began to recognize the Truth and Reconciliation Day," Metallic said.

"The general patrol platoon that I was working with at the time, on that very first day, we ended up all wearing orange uniform shirts, so very supportive of the... chief and the deputy chief."

Metallic put together a smudging kit that's displayed in one of the interview rooms at the police station. 

"It doesn't happen very often, but if I ever come across any clients that are of Indigenous descent or cultural background, I always try to make that offering to them when I meet with them," Metallic said.

"We don't take something without offering something back. So I always tend to carry a little bit of tobacco with me."

She also created a giant LED medicine wheel that was on display at Summerside City Hall, as well as smaller gestures for her co-workers like bringing them braids of sweetgrass.