The OPP handed out their annual Accolade Awards Monday and several local officers were recognized for work in relation to the Noelle Paquette homicide.

The case came to a close last Feburary when Tanya Bogdanovich and Michael MacGregor were handed life sentences for the brutal murder of the Sarnia kindergarten teacher, whose body was found in a woodlot on Jan. 2, 2013

The awards are presented to both uniform and civilian members.

Nominations are submitted by member’s peers, and are then reviewed by a panel of community members and OPP staff of various ranks.

Receiving the award for their work on the Paquette case were:

Det.-Insp. Chris Avery and Marg McPhaden, both of London, Det.-Sgt. Mike McCabe of Goderich and the following officers from Petrolia - Det.-Sgt. Tim Mason, Det.-Const. Jennifer Wilson, Det.-Const . Denis Leblanc, Det.-Const. Vicki Bradford, Det.-Const. Don Drury and Const. Bruce Keefe.

As well, Det.-Const. Micah Bourdeau of London was honoured for his work on Project Kirby, which was a multi-jurisdiction investigation on the importation and distribution of illegal guns into Ontario from the United States.

The Middlesex Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Initiative Team was also recognized.