Part 1: Safety Partnerships, Policing Pressures, and Community Planning — 06/26/2023

The County Police Services Board met virtually on June 26, 2023, bringing together board members, OPP leadership, and community partners to talk through public safety priorities, policing pressures, and how community services fit into the bigger picture. The meeting was chaired by Rick Gwozdowski, Chair of the Police Services Board, who guided the discussion through a long agenda that blended community presentations with operational updates.

The meeting was held online with no in person public attendance, though residents were able to follow along through the livestream and agenda materials posted in advance.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

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Community voices on violence prevention

The first major presentation came from Holly Baines, Training and Public Engagement Coordinator with Alternatives for Women. Baines walked the board through the organization’s work supporting women and children in the County who are experiencing domestic violence and intimate partner violence.

She explained that Alternatives for Women offers crisis support, counselling, safety planning, court accompaniment, and transitional housing, while also working at a broader systems level through education, youth outreach, and advocacy. Baines emphasized that violence takes many forms beyond physical harm, including emotional, financial, and psychological abuse, and that these often overlap.

A key request to the board was for stronger and more consistent referrals from police when officers encounter signs of intimate partner violence, even when the original call is not classified as a domestic violence call. Baines said earlier referrals could help reduce repeat calls by connecting people to supports sooner.

Board members asked how this work connects to the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, and discussion touched on the Renfrew Inquest and its recommendations. The chair encouraged the working groups involved in community safety planning to remain attentive to those lessons.

Provincial Liaison Team and protest policing

The next presentation was delivered by Provincial Constable Wendi Hughes, a member of the OPP East Region Provincial Liaison Team. Hughes explained the team’s role in building communication and trust before, during, and after major events, including protests, demonstrations, and Indigenous related incidents.

She outlined how the team grew out of lessons from past crises, including Oka and Ipperwash, and how their mandate focuses on safety, dialogue, and minimizing the use of force. Hughes described her work across eastern Ontario, including events in the County, Ottawa, and other regions.

Questions from the board touched on public perception, particularly around large scale protests. OPP leadership responded by highlighting professional conduct and positive feedback received from communities where the County officers have been deployed.

Police blitzes and revenue concerns

A more operational discussion followed, led by Amanda Carter, Director of Finance and IT, and Angela Lumley, Provincial Offences Administrator. They presented data showing a sharp decline in ticket volumes and fine revenue compared to pre pandemic levels, noting the financial impact this has had on municipal revenues.

This led to a detailed response from Inspector John Hatch, Detachment Commander for the County OPP. Hatch stressed that public safety, not revenue generation, drives policing decisions. He explained how staffing shortages, changes in policing priorities, and officer discretion have all influenced enforcement patterns.

Hatch noted that while traffic stops have increased significantly compared to the previous year, charges have declined as officers issue more warnings and focus on education. He also explained that the detachment no longer has dedicated traffic officers due to staffing levels, something that could change if recruitment improves.

The exchange highlighted the tension between municipal financial realities and the principles of modern community focused policing.

Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan update

An update on the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan was provided by Julienne Snepsts, Program Supervisor, and Lauri Prest, Plan Facilitator. They explained that the plan is a provincially required framework developed with more than 20 local agencies and is now in its implementation phase.

They outlined the plan’s five priority areas, including domestic violence, housing and homelessness, poverty reduction, senior support, and mental health and substance use. Action teams are now meeting regularly, aligning services, and identifying gaps.

Several early successes were highlighted, including ongoing funding for senior programs, progress on the municipal housing plan, expanded financial relief programs, food security funding, and work to rebuild shared resource tools like the domestic violence red card program.

Board members asked about funding responsibilities and the role of the municipality, prompting discussion about collaboration between local government and community agencies.

Policing updates and local crime trends

Inspector Hatch also delivered a detailed detachment report covering crime trends, staffing, and operations. He reported declines in property crime, break and enters, and mischief, alongside ongoing challenges related to fraud, online harassment, and youth related incidents.

Hatch highlighted recent staffing additions, marine patrol updates, and upcoming community focused events, including a planned OPP family night later in the year.

Throughout the report, connections were made back to the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, particularly around mental health calls and youth education.

Key Takeaways

1. Domestic and intimate partner violence remains a major focus area, with closer coordination between police and community supports continuing to evolve.

   
   

2. Policing priorities in the County are increasingly centered on prevention, education, and community engagement rather than enforcement for revenue.

   
   

3. The Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan is actively moving from paper to practice, with local agencies and the municipality working together on housing, poverty, senior support, and mental health across the county.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 2:00:04. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.