As National Police Appreciation Week is recognized across the country, it’s a perfect time to spotlight local officers who are making a difference—like Constable Jeff Forster, who has proudly served with the Morden Police Service for 20 years.
“I’ve lived my whole life in this community,” said Forster. “It’s a way for us to give back. We all have families here, and we want it to be safe for everybody.”
Now serving as Morden’s Community Resource Officer, Forster has stepped into a unique role that focuses less on tickets and more on connection.
A new approach to policing
While traditional policing often means responding to a call and moving on, Forster’s work goes deeper.
“As Community Resource Officer, it’s not the same as traditional policing,” he explained. “It’s more about getting to the root cause of crime—helping people who are struggling with addictions, mental health—and getting them the resources they need.”
This approach aims to prevent future crime by addressing the underlying issues, something that’s possible because of Morden’s size and tight-knit nature.
“We still live in a small community,” said Forster. “That allows us to really dig into the problems and help people in meaningful ways.”
Welcoming newcomers with open arms
In his work, Forster also focuses on helping newcomers feel safe and welcome—many of whom come from countries where the relationship with law enforcement can be very different.
“One of my big pushes has been building relationships with the newcomer community through Regional Connections,” he said. “The response has been very positive. I honestly haven’t seen any big problems.”
This effort helps ease fears and build trust with those who may carry past trauma involving police from other parts of the world.
The toughest calls
Despite the rewarding nature of his work, the job isn’t without emotional challenges—especially when children are involved.
“For me, it’s seeing people’s misery, people suffering, and family issues,” Forster said. “Dealing with anything involving kids is very difficult for our officers. That’s tough.”
It's a powerful reminder of the emotional weight many officers carry, and another reason to show appreciation this week.
What appreciation really means
So what’s the best way to thank your local police officers during National Police Week?
“Honestly, a simple thank you is enough,” said Forster. “Most of us don’t do this for recognition. We do it because we care about our communities.”
He also encourages people to educate themselves about what real policing looks like, beyond the versions seen in movies or TV.
“There’s a lot of misinformation out there,” Forster said. “People have this sanitized, Hollywood version of policing—but it’s not like that. That’s part of my job, to help educate people.”
A cop, a coffee… and an apple fritter
And yes, the donut stereotype still has roots in reality.
“Back in the 50s and 60s, donut shops were the only places open at night,” Forster explained with a laugh. “Police would stop in for coffee, and it gave shop owners free security. That’s where the whole cops-and-donuts thing came from.”
So what’s his donut of choice?
“Apple fritter,” he laughed.