Retired city officer Harry Burley given Mayor's Heart of the Community Award

Retired Belleville Auxiliary and Special Constable Harry Burley praised for “fostering safe, welcoming and vibrant core” through his role as Ambassador at the Downtown Community Policing Office.

Article content Heartwarming applause filled The Belleville Club Monday evening after retired city Auxiliary and Special Constable Harry Burley was feted with one of the highest honours the City of Belleville can bestow. Burley was presented by Coun. Garnet Thompson and Coun.

Barb Enright-Miller with a framed Mayor’s Heart of the Community Award affixed with a symbolic wooden heart hewn from a piece of timber reclaimed from the 1988 renovation of City Hall. Recommended Videos The award recognized Burley for his “exceptional dedication, distinguished service and unwavering commitment to the Belleville community” that has “contributed significantly to the positive development of Downtown Belleville.” Mayor Neil Ellis praised Burley in the award inscription for his continued policing work of 36 years of serving the city as well as after his retirement in 2024 to volunteer as the Ambassador of the “Downtown Community Policing Office where your presence has been instrumental in fostering a safe, welcoming and vibrant downtown core.”

Ellis wrote, Burley’s decades of work in the downtown has left a legacy “of service, leadership and genuine care for others.” The community policing office was opened in July 2024, a project spearheaded by Dinkel’s and Paulos Restaurants’ owner Paul Dinkel and downtown developer Mark Turner, owner of Restoration Service Inc. — with the blessing of Belleville Police Service. Located at 211 Front St, the policing office provides residents with convenient access to services such as e-report filing, bicycle registration, criminal record checks, and the opportunity to share compliments about officers.

In Thompson’s remarks to a gathering of police, merchants and community members, he extolled Burley’s uncanny ability to infuse downtown with a renewed sense of calm and stability without a badge or gun as addictions, mental health and homeless incidents in the core have declined. “Harry’s down there with his cell phone and that’s it, that’s the guy who means so much to our city. It really has cleaned up ... in the last two years, three years we’ve opened more businesses than I can remember in 20 years,” Thompson said.

“We’ve opened so many, and I’ll tell you it’s because of Harry that this is happening. Harry, I mean it, this is happening because of you.” Enright-Miller, who serves as vice chair of Belleville Police Services Board, thanked Hurley for making Downtown Belleville a better place for everyone.

In a quiet, unassuming reply, Burley said, “thank you so very much, it means the world to me and downtown is my passion. I grew up in this city a long time ago and I’ve always loved downtown and I want to make it grow. I want to make it happy again.”

“I want to make the businesses work, I want everything positive for all of you in this room tonight,” he said. “I am so honoured to see all my police family here with me. God bless them for taking the time.”

Police Chief Murray Rodd said the laurels for Burley were well placed given his full dedication to volunteering at the downtown community police station since retiring in 2024. “Literally, the downtown is the heart of the community and I couldn’t think of a more fitting honour than the Heart of the City award, that’s just brilliant,” the chief said. “As of July 10, Harry spent 832.5 hours in less than six months at that space and he’s interacted with another 832 people and he keeps track of all that.”

Rodd said, “merchants trust him, shoppers appreciate him and the community benefits from thestability and kindness he brings to the heart of the city. Harry, you show us what community looks like when someone chooses to invest.” Concerned citizen Ray Reilly, who helped organize the ceremony with the Downtown Business Improvement Association and city police, offered high praise for Burley’s ability to defuse potential trouble in the downtown.

He presented him with a special framed picture as a thank-you to Ambassador Harry for making him feel comfortable on his walks through the city core. “I’m so happy, I walk there all the time now,” Reilly said, adding, “I don’t think you’re going to give him a better title.” Danielle Hanoman, executive director of Belleville’s Downtown Business Improvement Association, thanked Hurley in a prepared statement read during the award presentation.

“Harry, your hard work dedication and unwavering commitment has made a lasting impact. You approach every day with resilience, compassion and a genuine desire to make downtown a safer stronger and more welcoming place for everyone,” said Hanoman. “You consistently go above and beyond, not because you have to, but because you truly care whether you’re supporting local businesses, helping someone in need or simply taking the time to build relationships throughout our community.

Your kindness and professionalism never go unnoticed.” A large handmade card scrawled with dozens of thank-you greetings by downtown residents and merchants was presented to Hurley by DBIA staff at the close of the ceremony.