BPSB Notes: More courthouse staff approved, provincial grant changes and more

Justice Stephen Hunter makes a presentation to the Belleville Police Services Board, on May 16, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)

More staff to be hired for courthouse security

The Belleville Police Service will be adding one full-time special constable, two supplementary officers and a part-time special constable, to help with increased staffing needs at the Quinte Courthouse.

The city’s police board gave approval for the hires on Thursday, following a presentation from Justice Stephen Hunter, who says the added staff is needed to oversee 13 courtrooms, 22 prisoner cells and handle prisoner transport duties.

Hunter tells Quinte News he’s glad the board is doing its best to address the shortfall.

The new hires means there will be total of 15 special constables assigned to the courthouse, if you include full-time, part-time and supplementary positions.

Chief Ron Gignac says the cost of adding the staff has either been set aside in the 2019 budget, or will be made up by salaries of two officers who recently resigned and compensation from the WSIB.

Mayor Mitch Panciuk asked for the Chief to report back to the board in November with an update on the impact the added staff members are making at the QCC.

Belleville Police Chief Ron Gignac during a meeting of the Belleville Police Services Board, on May 16, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)

Changes coming to provincial grant process

Some changes are coming to the way local police forces recieve funding through the provinces Community Safety Policing Grant program and that may mean negative impacts in Belleville.

Police Chief Ron Gignac told the police services board on Thursday that the funding, which used to work out to about a quarter of a million dollars a year, will no longer be guaranteed and will now have to be applied for.

Gignac tells Quinte News, if they weren’t able to get that grant, there may be a significant budget impact in the second half of 2019 and into next year.

Gignac says Belleville does have a few programs that will hopefully put them at the top of the list and he, along with his staff, will be working hard on the application to be submitted shortly.

Next step taken in therapy dog pilot project

There could be a friendly and furry face roaming around the Belleville Police Service soon.

The police services board has agreed to a memorandum of understanding with the St. John Council of Ontario to begin a therapy dog program and assist victims of crime when they have to visit the police station to give reports, or speak to detectives.

A similar program has been run recently at the Quinte Consolidated Courthouse with positive feedback.

Inspector Chris Barry would be spearheading the project and says that MOU will have to be sent to Toronto to be approved and he’s hoping they’ll have an update on the next steps for the progam within the next month.

Constable Barry Lannin and Chris Vandertoorn are presented with the St. John’s Ambulance Award for Life Saving, on May 16, 2019. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)

More officers honoured for hard work and life saving

Another handful of recognitions were handed out at the Belleville Police Services Board meeting on Thursday.

First, Inspector Sheri Meeks was recognized after being honoured recently at the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement Gala, for her work in developing a recruit training guide.

That guide has been used to train officers at more than 30 police forces across Ontario, as well as Via Rail police and at the Ontario Police College.

Constables Chris Vandertoorn and Barry Lannin were also given the St. John’s Ambulance Award for Life Saving for their role in delivering first aid to a citizen who had come into the police station with a severed artery last year.

The pair had also been recognized by the Belleville Police Service last fall.

Belleville Police Inspector Sheri Meeks is recognized on May 16, 2019, after being honoured at the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement Gala. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)