Several officers with the Belleville Police Service were recognized for special efforts at Tuesday’s meeting of the Police Services Board.
Sergeant Kosta Brindakis (left) and Sergeant Kyle King September 26/2023. (Photo: Quinte News)
Above and Beyond
Two sergeants were recognized for an initiative called Project Thurlow Trident. Trident had platoon officers working with the sergeants’ focus on crime reduction in Thurlow ward when not responding to immediate calls for service.
Sergeant Kosta Brindakis told the Police Services Board Tuesday that Thurlow residents often complained about a lack of police presence in Thurlow.
Brindakis said a staff shortage in the face of increasing calls for service in urban Belleville made it difficult to mount consistent patrols in the rural area.
However, a special effort was made over the summer and it netted remarkable results.
Project Thurlow Trident led to officers laying 113 Provincial Offence Act charges, seven serious traffic-related charges and educational presentations to businesses and schools.
Brindakis said he hoped the hiring of more officers would lead to a permanent dedicated patrol presence in Thurlow ward as the population continues to increase there.
Belleville Police Chief Mike Callaghan (left), Special Constable Madison Turnbull, Police Services Board Chair Tyler Allsopp. (Photo: Quinte News)
A Life Saved
The Police Services Board and Chief Mike Callaghan recognized Special Constable Madison Turnbull and Constable Aaron Gauthier for their quick action offering CPR to a 24-year-old woman who’d collapsed in the Quinte Consolidated Courthouse and had stopped breathing.
Apparently the woman had stopped taking her anti-seizure medication.
Constable Gauthier, who was a Special Constable at the time the incident occurred in late June, could not attend the board meeting as he was training at the Ontario Police College.
Chief Mike Callaghan, Acting Sergeant Paul Fyke, Police Services Board Chair Tyler Allsopp, Deputy Chief Chris Barry. (Photo: Quinte News)
A commitment to safety on the area’s roadways was recognized Tuesday by the Belleville Police Services Board.
Due to a staff shortage in the summer, the Belleville police Traffic Safety Unit had been temporarily shut down and Acting Sergeant Paul Fyke had been transferred to general patrol.
However, he made certain to join with OPP officers from various Quinte region detachments for the one-day “Safe on 62” joint traffic initiative.
The day’s work resulted in the laying of 53 Provincial Offence Notices, five warnings, and multiple more serious traffic-related charges including a stunt driving charge (144 kmh in an 80 kmh zone) by Fyke.
Chief Callaghan said Fyke’s personal interest in road safety was worthy of commendation.
