Belleville’s new Youth In Policing candidates, Brock Abbott and Mackenna Clayton post for a photo with members of the Belleville Police Services Board, on July 20, 2017. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Police force increasing presence along waterfront
You may have noticed an increased police presence in Belleville’s waterfront areas over the past couple of months.
That’s because the police force has been putting some focus on increasing its presence in those areas, where officers aren’t always that visible.
Chief Ron Gignac tells Quinte News, officer visibility alone can make citizens and tourists feel safer and be a big deterrent on crime.
During May and June officers conducted a total of 39.5 hours of patrols, over two months, throughout the city’s waterfront trail systems and parks.
Youth In Policing summer students hired
The Belleville Police Service has hired its Youth In Policing summer students, who have officially been introduced to the Police Services Board.
The program provides up to eight weeks of full-time summer work for students, through July and August and is funded by a provincial grant.
This year’s students are Makenna Clayton, a grade 12 student at Centennial Secondary School and Brock Abbott, who is going into grade 11 at Bayside Secondary.
Both students have already worked on projects like Waterfront Festival and will be active in other programs like the Children’s Safety Village, through the rest of the summer.
Officers recognized for commitment to fitness
A pair of Belleville Police officers are being recognized for their commitment to fitness.
Inspector Sherri Meeks was praised for receiving a 100% grade during a voluntary Ontario Police Fitness Challenge test earlier this month and is the only Belleville Police Service member to ace that test this year.
Speaking to Quinte News, Chief Ron Gignac stressed the importance of high levels of fitness for his officers.
Training Constable Pat Comeau was also recognized for his efforts in spearheading the force’s fitness programs, which has led the local police force to have the highest ratio of officers complete the provincial fitness challenge test, in all of Ontario.
Board supports grant requests
The Belleville Police Board is supporting the chief in applying for some grant money.
If approved, the Chief’s Civil Remedies Grant would be worth about $152,000 and would be used to buy a new forensic laser and to fund a pair of automated license plate recognition systems.
Chief Ron Gignac says applying for grants is a critical way for the force to find sources of revenue, other than taxes, to pay for new equipment and upgrades.
He adds that those purchases are more steps towards making Belleville “the safest city in Ontario”.
