NEWSLETTER

Board NotesWelcome to the first issue of the Halton Regional Police Services Board's newsletter. This is a new initiative aimed at keeping the Members of Council and residents of Halton Region informed of community news and the work of the Halton Regional Police Service.

This publication will be released on a quarterly basis and will be tailored for each municipality. We hope you find this newsletter informative and that it will be shared among your constituents.

Police Services Board & Halton Regional Police Service

PSB Pulse

FALL 2015Vol.1, No.1

Low Crime Rates in HaltonFind out how Halton's crime rate compares against other Ontario municipalities.

2 District NewsLearn more about what is happening in District 3(Burlington).

3

About UsHalton Regional Police Service

The Halton Regional Police Service contributes to the safety and well-being of the Region of Halton's more than 530,000 residents. Working in partnership with the communities we serve, the Service delivers quality, cost-effective public safety and crime prevention services, as mandated by law.

About UsHalton Regional Police Services Board

The Halton Regional Police Services Board is a seven member civilian Board that oversees that Halton Regional Police. Under the Police Services Act, the Police Board's fundamental responsibility is to ensure adequate and effective police services are provided to the citizens of Halton Region. The Board is also responsible for the Police Service operating and capital budgets, strategic planning, policies and priorities.

Contact UsHalton Regional Police Services Board

1151 Bronte Road

Oakville, Ontario

L6M 3L1

Phone: 905.825.4816

Fax: 905.825.9417

Email: PoliceServicesBoard@haltonpolice.ca

Website: www.haltonpolice.ca

Halton Crime RatesHalton has lowest crime rate since amalgamation in 1974In July 2015, Statistics Canada released their annual report on crime in Canada. The report detailed the overall crime rate declined again in 2014. In keeping with that trend, Halton reduced its overall crime rate to the lowest level since 1974. The chart above indicates that of the 51 communities in Canada with populations in excess of 100,000 people, Halton had the lowest overall Crime Severity Index. Halton Region, consisting of the City of Burlington, Town of Halton Hills, Town of Milton and Town of Oakville, is the safest municipality of its size.

Vulnerable Persons RegistryHalton Regional Police launched online registry June 1, 2015

The Halton Regional Police Service launched its online Vulnerable Persons Registry on June 1, 2015. This is an evolution of the Autism Registry implemented by the Service in October 2014.

The Registry is a voluntary service offered throughout the Halton Region that allows a family member and/or caregivers of vulnerable persons to submit critical information to the Service that may be used during an emergency situation. This will provide the Service with emergency contact information, detailed physical descriptions, known routines and the special needs of this individual.

New HeadquartersConstruction begins on new Halton police headquarters on October 14

The Halton Regional Police Service Board has approved a bid by Eastern Construction to build the new Halton police headquarters. The project cost reaches $65 million, which covers structural costs, information technology, computer and radio systems and insurance.

The official ground breaking for the new structure, to be located on the same regional property at 1151 Bronte Road, has been scheduled for October 14. When complete the four-storey structure will be 235,000 square feet, which is considerably larger than the existing 86,000-sq.-ft. facility.

New Deputy ChiefsDeputy Chiefs Crowe and Duraiappah Sworn In

The Halton Regional Police Services Board led a ceremony on October 9, 2015 to swear in Carol Crowe and Nishan Duraiappah as the new Deputy Chiefs of the Halton Regional Police Service, which serves the region’s four municipalities. The Deputies were sworn in by Justice M. Edward Graham at the ceremony that took place at the Burlington Convention Centre. Chief Stephen Tanner and Police Service Board Chair Mayor Rob Burton presented the Deputy Chiefs with their new badges during the ceremony.

The Halton Regional Police Services Board has approved the acquisition of software to allow residents to apply for police clearances online. Stay tuned for news releases announcing when this is available.

COMING SOON

POLICE SERVICES BOARD

ChairMayor Rob Burton

Vice-ChairMarion YeeMembers

Gary BurkettRegional Cllr. Rick Craven

Barb FerroneRegional Cllr. Jeff Knoll

Jason WaddenExecutive DirectorDorothy McDonald

Rules of the RoadHRPS Traffic Initiatives

Did you know that you can report incidents involving aggressive/unsafe driving?ROAD WATCH is a community driven reporting system residents can use to report incident anonymously. Traffic complaints can now be submitted online at:www.haltonpolice.ca/PRC/Pages/ROADWATCH.aspx

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

November 1-7, 2015Crime Prevention Week

November 26, 20159:00 a.m. PSB Board Meeting

Police Headquarters

December 17, 20159:00 a.m. PSB Board Meeting

Police Headquarters

The provincial government is taking steps to encourage safer driving through the Making Ontario Roads Safer Act that includes stiffer fines and penalties for drivers who choose to break the law and put others at risk on our roads. This new legislation provides five new (or amended) laws under the Highway Traffic Act, three of them beginning on September 1, 2015.

The “move-over law” that serves to protect emergency workers on the side of the road will now include tow truck drivers. The fine will be $490.00 and the loss of three demerit points.

Distracted driving fines have increased a second time. A driver caught using a cell phone will be

fined a minimum of $490.00 and will lose three demerit points.

Drivers will have to give cyclists at least one metre of room where possible when passing. In addition, a new law has been created to protect cyclists from “dooring”. If a

motorist is parked and does not check before opening

the door into the path of a cyclist, there will be a fine between $300 and $1000.00 as well as three demerit points.

Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and police

all play an integral role in ensuring our roads are the safest they can be. Please put down the cell phone, and keep your eyes on the road.

On July 16, 2015, members of the District Response Unit, supported by the District Response teams from other districts and the Commercial Vehicle Unit conducted a one day blitz on the main commuter routes.

Officers targeted the top four driving behaviours that lead to the greatest number of vehicle collisions, injuries and death on our roadways — impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving and failure to wear a seatbelt. The results of the blitz were:

• 217 Provincial Offenses Notices

• 35 Warnings

• 2 Suspensions

• 7 Level 1 Vehicle Inspections (six of the vehicles failed with one set of plates seized)

Do you know the rules

of the road? Are you the safest driver you can

be?

Ontario's New Rules of the Road Halton Motor Vehicle Blitz

District InitiativesCram-a-CruiserMembers from the 1 District Community Mobilization Bureau partnered with the Milton Real Canadian Superstore to hold a Cram-a-Cruiser event on September 26. The event was held to support the President's Choice Children's Charity and the Salvation Army.

Local InvestigationHalton Regional Police have arrested Patrick Skylar Clancy following a lengthy investigation. Police believe he is responsible for over 50 vehicle entries in Milton from July to September. Officers were conducting targeted enforcement in the areas recently affected by these vehicle entries and observed a taxi leaving the area. The investigation led officers to a hotel in Mississauga, where Clancy was later arrested. Charges include six counts of theft under $5,000, nine counts of theft of a credit card and 38 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card.

Traffic InitiativesOfficers within the District Response Team (DRT) continued with their efforts in addressing identified community traffic concerns.

With the support of the community, September 16 was the launch date for project Rural Impact where DRT target aggressive drivers. This project ran for four weeks and resulted in over 120 Provincial Offence Notices (PON), four stunt drivers and one impaired driver.

On September 23, DRT officers participated with the O.P.P. in its Caledon commercial motor vehicle blitz. This is another great example of how police agencies can continue to work together by pooling resources to focus on an issue that has a significant impact on public safety.

DISTRICT 1 MILTON/HALTON HILLSLOCAL NEWS1

FALL FAIRSThree annual fall fairs in Georgetown, Acton and Milton

The Acton and Milton Fairs saw the greatest amount of patrons this year. Each of the fairs were staffed with a combination of on-duty officers, paid duty officers, Cadets, Auxiliary Officers and COPP volunteers.

YIPI PROGRAMThe Halton Regional Police Service, in partnership with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, delivered the Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) program

The 1 District Elementary School Liaison Officer (ESLO) was assigned to help deliver the YIPI program this summer.

District InitiativesSchool EngagementSince almost the quarter of the school population includes grade nine students, officers are attending classes and assemblies at local schools to reach out to those incoming students. These forums provided an opportunity for officers to introduce themselves to the school community and to share crime prevention tips regarding theft, social media and drugs.

The Elementary and High School Liaison Officers reconnected with their school administrators and the B.R.A.V.O. program is well under way for another academic year.

Home Safety AwarenessHome safety audits for Oakville residents were offered during the month of September and will continue throughout the fall. A variety of presentations were given to community members about personal safety, home safety, neighbourhood safety and general crime prevention.

Traffic InitiativesAs schools opened for the 2015/2016 school year, Project Safe Start focused on enforcement of the five “S’s” in school areas (speeding, seatbelts, stop signs, school zones and school buses), as well as distracted driving. District officers issued a total of 359 charges.

A second project that "piggybacked" Safe Start was High Flyer. Officers cracked down on high speed drivers driving Oakville's off-peak traffic times. The project began on September 11 and ran for two weeks. A total of 240 speeding charges were laid.

The Road Watch program processed 23 complaints, with caution letters distributed, in September. Many complaints were received through the new online form.

DISTRICT 2 OAKVILLELOCAL NEWS2

RIDE to REMEMBERConstable Matt Baker participated in the 2015 Canadian Police Memorial Ride

Constable Baker logged just under 900 kilometres on his bicycle over five days. The ride raised awareness and funds for the memorial, whcih provided support for families of officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

BUS PULLThe Oakville United Way campaign was kicked off by the fifth annual bus pull

Over 250 people participated including teams from Halton Region Emergency Services. 20 teams competed against each other pulling two Oakville Transit buses for 40 seconds. The fundraising exceeded the goal of $12,000.

District InitiativesSchool EngagementHigh School Liaison Officers maximized their presentation time in the high schools through Police Academic Days (PAD), where officers gathered in each high school to present about a specific subject. Students learned about human trafficking, sexting, distracted driving, drugs and other subjects during their assigned PAD. The comments received from the schools were overwhelmingly positive.

Lids 4 KidsOfficers have taken part in the Lids 4 Kids initiative. This year, the unit took a different tack and identified some higher needs communities in which to dedicate this project. In partnership with Halton Housing and Burlington Mall, officers successfully handed out over 200 free bicycle helmets to children and youth who were in need of one. Officers also offered bike safety tips and bike maintenance advice for the participants and their parents.

Traffic InitiativesFor many years the residents of rural Burlington have expressed concerns regarding the speeds travelled by vehicles in their communities. Speed enforcement on rural roadways has indicated that a significant portion of the problem is from commuters using rural routes to avoid more heavily travelled main thoroughfares such as Highway 401, Highway 6, Highway 403, QEW, and Dundas Street. Officers from the District Response Team initiated the Reduce Rural Roads project where officers issued 460 provincial offense notices for driving related offences along these rural roadways, 363 of those were for speeding. Officers will continue to patrol the rural roads to deter drivers from speeding along these roadways.

DISTRICT 3 BURLINGTONLOCAL NEWS3

TWITTER RIDE ALONGA day in the life of the Burlington platoon on duty

On September 11 staff took part in the Twitter Ride Along, called #RideWith3D, with the platoon. This day gave the community of Twitter followers an opportunity to see “a day in the life of" the platoon on duty.

OUR COMMUNITY CARESOur Community Cares resource fair at Burloak OCC location September 29

Officers attended the resource fair with other community orgnaizations. This is an example of how the Service is partnering with organizations in order to maintain a high level of outreach within high needs communities.