Const. Bill Trudeau and Sgt. Mike Jackson came to town last month to talk to residents and businesses about their first year serving the township.
Last month, staff from the Peterborough Police Service hosted an Open House at the Pastry Peddler to help mark the one year anniversary of their arrival in the Township of Cavan Monaghan. A year ago the organization assumed responsibility for providing police services to the Township under a three year contract, taking over from the Ontario Provincial Police. Chief of Police Murray Rodd along with Inspector Dan Smith, Operations Unit, Community Engagement & Development Coordinator Peter Williams, and two local officers came to town to seek input, listen and connect with the community they serve.
“This is an opportunity for us to engage with local citizens and receive feedback on the service we have been proudly providing to the Township since October 1, 2015,” Inspector Dan Smith, Operations Unit commented. “We want to hear how we’ve been doing and what residents would like us to do better. Honest feedback will only help us improve and build on the programs, services and relationships we have established in this area to date.”
Despite the fact that this is the first rural policing assignment in their history, the Peterborough Police have taken on the responsibility for serving Cavan Monaghan in stride. In addition to the four dedicated Uniform officers permanently assigned to the Township on Community Patrol, there are four others who rotate between the city and the township to ensure there is coverage in our community 24 hours a day, with 2 officers on duty for the night shift. This staff is supported by other frontline officers along with Traffic, Canine and Community Services when needed. They have two satellite offices; one located at the township office and the second one at the Peterborough Airport, but since the introduction of new technology which effectively turns their patrol cars into mobile offices, they spend little time at a desk in either location.
Officer Bill Trudeau and Sargent Mike Jackson are members of the dedicated Uniform Force assigned to the Township. Jackson and Trudeau requested this assignment, and were subjected to intense screening before their selection to ensure they were the right “fit” for the community. Both come from a smaller urban centre, and were looking for a more rural environment. It’s not for everyone, and after working in drug enforcement, it is quite a change for Trudeau. Other than the size of the area they cover, staff have not been surprised by the tone or pace of activities in the township requiring their support.
The most common cause for a call from this community is for speeding. It seems that rural residents are more independent and more likely to address their concerns directly, but in the case of traffic issues, the decision to bring in the authorities is an easy one. Inspector Smith explains that roughly 80% of calls for service are not related to criminal activity, but for family disputes, mental health issues, alarms, noise complaints or reports of suspicious people. As the weather deteriorates, there will be more calls about motor vehicle collisions as well.
For the record, Mayor McFadden has been very pleased with the change, saying “The transition to the Peterborough Police services this past year has been extremely positive. The increased level of presence within the Township and the open lines of communication between Council, staff, citizens, and the police have proven to be very beneficial for all parties. The services provided have been exceptional, and the overall budget savings to our taxpayers was significant.”
The Peterborough Police organization is built on a team policing concept where crime prevention and public order is viewed as a shared responsibility between the community and the police. Based on the philosophy of modern policing, officers are deemed to be citizens in uniform, protecting the interests of all citizens, a feeling expressed in the statement “The police are the public and the public are the police”. By taking a pro-active approach to crime prevention, we can do our part to protect our community and ensure our residents can continue to enjoy the many features, events and activities offered here. KG
