A new police unit is starting up in January to help deal with issues in all parts of the city and Callander, including Downtown North Bay.
Deputy Chief Michael Daze told the North Bay Police Services Board the ‘Community Response Unit’ will have four uniformed officers.
“They will not be dispatched as a platoon officer would be to a call. Instead they will work with the community on issues and challenges as they relate to crime and social disorder as the community has dictated,” he says.
Interaction is key for the unit.
“These officers will be not only downtown, but mainly in the downtown core on foot patrol year-round, in good weather they’ll be on bikes. They’ll be down engaging with our business members, engaging with our community, seeking their feedback looking to identify the challenges that are there.”
Daze says the unit can also help direct individuals they encounter to the services they need or want.
“We want to be able to increase that opportunity for them and that’s what we’re there for. We’ll be able to direct people to the proper services and likewise take enforcement action when we’re seeing some of the criminal activities that need to be enforced,” he says.
Meantime, the board heard police bike patrols logged upwards of 170-180 hours of service this past summer.

(photo taken by station staff)

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