PROVINCIAL POLICE HONOUR HEROIC OFFICERS, CIVILIANS

Eagle-Eyed Boy, OPP Father Help Stamp Out Grow-Op

Ryan Duke isn't sure if he wants to follow in his father's footsteps
as a police officer. After he helped police learn of a major marijuana
grow operation this summer, however, the Grade 4 student has already
displayed a talent for fighting crime.

Ryan was recognized for his "public-spirited" actions Sunday at an
annual ceremony in which dozens of eastern region OPP officers and
civilians were honoured for their bravery, lifesaving measures,
investigations and service.

Award recipients ranged from people recognized for decades of service
to civilians who pulled drivers from damaged vehicles.

Ryan was just nine on Aug. 30 when he and his father, Brockville OPP
Const. George Duke, were at a department store in the St. Lawrence
Seaway city.

George Duke, who was off duty, saw an unattended cart that contained
two humidifiers, boxes of freezer bags and extension cords. He told
his son he suspected it may have been drug-related, according to a
summary read at the ceremony.

Ryan told his father he had seen two men with the cart and that they
had another cart with more items.

As his father arranged to have police start surveillance on the men,
Ryan started his own surveillance, keeping watch on the men from
behind clothes racks and display cases and peering around corners
before returning to his father to report what he had seen.

The boy changed his baseball cap several times during an hour of
surveillance in order to avoid being spotted.

The men were eventually followed to a farm, where police later found
thousands of pounds of bud drying in the barn, along with as many as
30,000 marijuana plants. Twelve people were arrested.

Asked Sunday what was going through his mind at the time, Ryan just
smiled. "I don't know how to explain it."

His father said: "He did a great job."

Father and son were honoured at the ceremony, which was held in
Ottawa.