City Police announce creation of new Community Oriented Response Unit

North Bay Police Service
News Release

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Safety and crime prevention are basic elements of the quality of life and sustainable development of municipalities. The North Bay Police Service, in collaboration with the Downtown Improvement Area (DIA) in the City of North Bay, with the assistance of students from the BIIDAABON Community Service Learning Office of Aboriginal Initiatives at Nipissing University completed a survey in the designated area (organizations and business locations not residential property) of the DIA during the winter months of 2013.

The survey results revealed that there is a perception of crime in the downtown core that is adversely affecting the community’s image that the downtown area is unsafe. Statistics Canada Universal Crime Reporting (UCR) information indicates that crime is on a downward trend in Canada do to a number of factors yet, the North Bay Police Service continues to see increased calls for Service and a demand for police presence.

Perception of crimes are often impacted by many social aspects of life that are not crime related but still influence the concern level of persons’ feeling of safety.
The downtown survey revealed a pressing concern for drug activity, loitering, trespassing, minor mischief’s and property damage.

Traditionally, the police have held the responsibility of ensuring public safety and preventing crime. Perceptions are a difficult dynamic to change through law enforcement alone. Public safety is everyone’s concern. All institutes, organizations, community groups and citizens need to contribute to the development of a safe and cohesive living environment.

The North Bay Police Service is proud to announce the creation of a Community Oriented Response (COR) Unit designed to address community expectations for a safe living environment and public spaces.

This Unit will work with and assist in mobilizing any group interested in creating a safer community. The COR Unit will be made up of three designated uniform officers supervised by a Staff Sergeant who will work with North Bay Police Service Patrol Section and Traffic Bike Officers. These officers will utilize foot and bicycle patrols to provide visible and tangible police presence in the North Bay and Callander downtown core and other public spaces. The COR Unit’s mandate will offer an integrated approach to problem solving through increased interaction, crime prevention, public relations, education and enforcement. The COR Unit will focus on creating possible solutions to ongoing issues that are taxing police resources and creating a perception of crime.

Through a working relationship with the North Bay and District Health Unit, eight members of the North Bay Police Service are being trained by members of the Ottawa Police Service Bike Unit on the following items:

Lessons and skills learned over the two days of training will be utilized by COR, Traffic and Uniform Patrol Bike Officers throughout the summer.

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