The North Bay Police Service is teaming up with the Ontario Provincial Police in its attempt to combat guns and gangs in the province.
"Law enforcement agencies are uniting to enhance their capacity to implement a Guns and Gangs Enforcement Strategy across Ontario," stated David Woolley, corporate communications officer with the North Bay Police Service.
"The North Bay Police Service is dedicated to protecting the safety and security of our community. Our commitment to the Guns and Gangs JFO will allow us to work in a multi-jurisdictional environment to collaborate to better understand the guns and gangs landscape in Ontario.Our community members are often our best resource."
A Guns and Gangs Joint-Forces Operation (JFO) led by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is expected to increase intelligence sharing and provide additional enforcement tools through a $75.1 million investment announced last fall by the Ontario government.
The JFO enables law enforcement partners to better collaborate to enhance public safety and effectively disrupt gang networks and their associated criminal activities. The Guns and Gangs JFO consists of the following police services: Anishinabek Police Service; Barrie Police Service; Brantford Police Service; Cornwall Police Service; Halton Regional Police Service; Hamilton Police Service; Kingston Police; London Police Service; Niagara Regional Police Service; Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service; North Bay Police Service; Ottawa Police Service; Peel Regional Police; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Sudbury Police Service; Sûreté du Québec; Timmins Police Service; Toronto Police Service; Waterloo Regional Police Service; Windsor Police Service; and York Regional Police.
Police say collecting and sharing of information is vital to address public safety risks posed by guns and gangs in Ontario. The Guns and Gangs Enforcement Strategy includes developing a Joint Analytical Working Group consisting of personnel from participating law enforcement agencies and the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO) who will prioritize the gathering, analyzing and sharing of intelligence relating to gun and gang criminality and violence.
If you have any information or concerns regarding illegal firearms or gang activity in your community, call the North Bay Police Service at 705-497-5555 or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-222-8477 on submit a tip online.
