Four Philly cops honored for helping victims

Four police officers assigned to help crime victims in South Philadelphia will be honored for their service in an awards ceremony tonight.

Officers Pamela Canada, Latanya Oglesby, Susan Paul and Linda Redanauer will receive the Edward J. McLaughlin Award for Distinguished Service from Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia, Inc. The ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St., during the group's annual spring fundraiser.

Alison Sprague, the group's executive director, applauded the four officers for their "compassion and competence." Besides assisting victims, the four have organized Thanksgiving baskets for victims, visited them at home regularly and paid close attention to elderly victims and those with special needs, Sprague said.

The Edward J. McLaughlin Award is named after former Police Chief Inspector Ed McLaughlin, who founded the group in 1989.