July 2003 Feature Member Archives
Constable Leah Benham - Toronto Police Service is 37 years old and is currently posted to the Community Response Unit, Bicycle Patrol at 52 Division. Prior to joining the TPS, she served for 3 years with the regular forces of the Canadian Armed Forces.

In August 2001 Leah was seconded to the RCMP and employed as a Civilian Police (CIVPOL) Peacekeeping Officer for the United Nations Mission in Kosovo.

Leah made it back safe and sound from her tour of duty in Kosovo in May 2002. Leah secured an IOC position in the area of Firearms Training. This is virtually unheard of in an International mission for a female to be in charge.

Leah is aware of only two other women who have secured OIC positions on the mission.

The first shipment of 25 pairs of boots in the fall of 2002.

Anna Hermann (USA), Leah , and Heidi Grundstad (Norway)

Picture taken in Strpce, Kosovo
One is the deputy Regional Commander for Pristina Region, and the other is a Canadian who is the Chief MTO. Most of the female officers are deployed directly into administration roles. Women officers from Canada, USA, Germany, Austria and the Scandinavian countries have achieved positions in areas other than admin.

Leah's primary position was Officer In Charge, Firearms Kosovo Police In-service Training (total @ 4500 officers)

She had 9 Int'l officers working for her and appointed a female officer from Lithuania as her Team Leader. Leah held two other positions and performed the 3 functions for the entire mission:

  • Officer In Charge
  • Recruitment and Selection
  • KPS Close Protection Unit
  • Staff: 40 Int'l officers

She was appointed as the first Chairperson of the KPS Weapons Review Board.

The Board reviews numerous cases of officers involved shooting incidents within the KPS, recommending changes in training, policies and procedures in relation to firearms. Leah is a prime example of an officer with exceptional multi-tasking abilities. During her term, Leah experienced living conditions that included intervals of water shortages and electricity termination for 1-5 hours a day in the winter season.
In September of 2002 Leah initiated a used boot collection from her colleagues with the TPS and agencies in the GTA. Her goal was to eventually collect 100 pair of used boots and personally deliver them to the police women in Kosovo who were ill equipped in relation to footwear. In November 2002 Leah travelled back to Kosovo on her own time and expense and distributed 25 pair of boots at a remote mountain detachment of the Kosovo Police Service. They were truly grateful for the donation. Shortly after her return, Leah set a challenging goal which was to collect 100 pair of boots and once again take them to Kosovo.
She arranged for an impressive promotional poster to be printed and distributed it across the GTA. The poster depicted photos from the first boot donation and requested additional boots.

In preparation for her January 2003 departure for Kosovo to deliver over 100 pair of boots, Leah assisted in organizing a women in policing conference “Striving for Excellence.” As an ambassador for the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement and the IAWP, Leah arranged to take several brochures to share the word about the benefits of membership. During the opening ceremonies at the Kosovo conference, Leah provided an inspiration presentation highlighting details about IAWP. In addition, Leah assisted with advanced firearms techniques training in the Firearms Workshops. She delivered valuable training, messages about endurance, perseverance, support, mentoring, acceptable practises and words of inspiration.

Leah changed the lives of the police women in Kosovo forever. Leah provided the police women of Kosovo with boots that they would never have been able to afford on their own and given the current state of the economy in Kosovo would never have been issued. Over 125 police women in Kosovo now have footwear that is warm and comfortable thanks to Leah.