From left to right: Chief Eric Stubbs (Ottawa Police Service), Detective Akiva Geller (Ottawa Police Service), Deputy Chief Marc Andrews (Peel Regional Police Service)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 18, 2026

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is proud to announce the winner of the CACP International Policing Award which recognizes the important contributions made by Canadian police services in global matters.  It acknowledges Canadian law enforcement personnel for their exceptional dedication and initiative in using Canadian policing skills to contribute to a safer world and seeks to encourage more Canadian police services to contribute to, and work on, the international scene.

This year’s award recipients are Detective Akiva Geller and Forensic Officer John Webster of the Ottawa Police Service, for Project Roaring Lion.

The famous Roaring Lion portrait of Winston Churchill that sat in the reading room of the Château Laurier was stolen and replaced with a fraudulent copy between December 25, 2021, and January 6, 2022. This piece of art was considered a national treasure and the artist who took the picture — Yusuf Karsh — was very much beloved in Ottawa.

In August of 2022, a journeyman working at the Château Laurier in Ottawa alerted security and the general manager that the portrait had been stolen and replaced with a fraudulent version.

The thief sent the authentic copy to a relative in the United Kingdom from his home in Quebec, Canada. The portrait was then sent to Sotheby's auction house in London, England where it was sold to an Italian buyer for 5,292 British Pounds (approximately 10,000 Canadian dollars). The portrait was then shipped to its new owner in Genoa, Italy in May of 2022.

The investigative tenacity demonstrated in this matter was outstanding. The theft was discovered approximately 8 months after the incident took place; therefore, forensic evidence was limited. Suspects were not known to police and leads were scarce. The media did not lose interest, nor did local city officials, making the pressure to solve the case intense. Detective Geller, along with forensic officer John Weber, through a piece of duct tape, were able to have a DNA profile developed. The subject was identified, and several investigative steps led to locating the stolen portrait in Genoa.

Through arrangements with the Italian Carabinieri and the RCMP liaison officer in Rome, Detective Geller travelled to Italy in September of 2024 and returned to Canada with the portrait. This proved to be an incredibly complex case that involved a range of forensics work, public engagement, and support and cooperation from international organizations across multiple jurisdictions. Several charges were laid and, in May of 2025, the accused was sentenced.

"Project Roaring Lion is an outstanding example of the perseverance, innovation, and international collaboration that define modern policing. Faced with limited forensic evidence and a complex cross-border investigation, the Ottawa Police Service demonstrated exceptional investigative excellence in identifying those responsible and securing the return of a treasured piece of Canadian cultural heritage. This case highlights how strong partnerships between Canadian law enforcement, international policing agencies, and forensic specialists can overcome jurisdictional boundaries to achieve justice. On behalf of the CACP, I congratulate Detective Akiva Geller, Forensic Officer John Webster, and all those involved in this remarkable investigation." —  Assistant Commissioner Elija Rain, co-chair of the CACP International Committee.                                                            

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For further information or to arrange a media interview, please contact:

Natalie Wright | natalie@cacp.ca | 613.838.8807 | www.cacp.ca