One of the most decorated police officers in Canada, Michael Joy is a 36-year member of the Hamilton Police Service. But his first call to duty was on the other side of the border. Michael served three years with the United States Marine Corps, where he reached the rank of sergeant and completed two tours of duty in Vietnam. He came home to Hamilton with a medal and a commitment to serving the public. He began his Police career with the Ancaster Police Department. On January 1, 1974 they were amalgamated with Hamilton and he became a member of the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Police Service.
During his many years patrolling the streets of Hamilton he received numerous awards and commendations for his proactive commitment to serve and protect. He has saved or helped save the lives of 11 people. He helped rescue two young women from an apartment fire, rescued and revived an 11 year-old girl, who’d been caught in a conveyor belt, and confronted a gunman while he himself was unarmed, so that he could save another man’s life.
Michael “Mike” Joy
On July 27, 1995, Police Constable Michael Joy negotiated with an individual armed with a sawed-off shotgun, in the hope of providing assistance to a severely wounded man in Hamilton, Ontario. Responding to a call of a shooting, police officers surrounded the house where four men had been binging on drugs and alcohol. Through the dispatcher, Constable Joy persuaded the aggressor to let his partners go and once outside, they confirmed that one man had been shot in the head. After several failed attempts to convince the gunman to surrender and fearing that the victim might not live until negotiators arrived, Constable Joy informed the aggressor that he was coming in, unarmed. As Constable Joy 
entered the house with his hands up, the man aimed his gun menacingly at his head. Undeterred, Constable Joy was able to calm the unstable man, convince him to put down his weapon and give himself up. The victim did not survive.
Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: June 25, 1998
Invested on: May 10, 1999
shouting words of encouragement until the fire trucks arrived.
As Constable Joy rushed toward the front door, he was overcome by smoke and collapsed. A colleague dragged him to safety while firefighters removed the victim. Star of Courage
Sergeant
United States Marine Corps
Two (2) Purple Hearts
Sep 1967 – Sep 1970 – 3 years 1 month
Khe Sahn, Dong Ho, Hue City, Hoi An VIETNAM
2nd Btn, 26th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, FMF WEST PAC, 96602.
2nd Combined Action Group, Hoi An, VIETNAM.
The Hamilton Safety Council and St. John’s Ambulance have recognized him numerous times with their Life Saving Awards. In 1998 he was invited to Ottawa to receive the Governor General’s Medal of Bravery. One year later he returned to 
Rideau Hall to receive the Governor Generals Star of Courage, Canada’s second highest bravery award.
The City of Hamilton has recognized Michael with a certificate of appreciation for long and dedicated service to the community, and the Canadian Police Association has presented him with a Special Award of Excellence.
Hamilton’s Gallery of Distinction
Inductee 2006