Mobile Crisis Team members say funding for new hires will make a difference in community

When asked about modern policing, North Bay Police Chief Scott Tod regularly cites a statistic that speaks to the evolution of the role of law enforcement: according to recent data, nearly three-quarters of all calls for assistance are not criminal in nature but rather deal with societal issues.

This is confirmed by Troy Kennedy and Sue Solman, a registered nurse and a police constable, respectively who serve together as part of the Mobile Crisis Team — a collaborative effort between the NBPS and North Bay Regional Health Centre — that connects community members in crisis with the supports they need while also finding alternatives to unnecessary emergency department visits.

Kennedy and Solman welcomed the news of $618,000 in funding for the Mobile Crisis Team, announced at NBPS headquarters by Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli. The funding is earmarked to support the hiring of two full-time officers to serve on the team and is one of four community safety support funding grants awarded Thursday.

"A lot of people are struggling and a lot of people are in crisis," Kennedy says when asked what the team sees on a daily basis. "We see a lot of good people struggling and, hopefully, we can give them a little hope for the future and in their lives."

Kennedy says this funding will help secure additional officers and nurses to grow their team to eventually provide the service around the clock, something he says is needed in the community.

As the Mobile Crisis Team officer, Solman credits Kennedy and his approach as a major reason the team has made inroads in the community although it is clear as the two answer questions a solid partnership has formed between them.

"We respond when officers request Mobile Crisis and they determine intervention from the nurse would be of benefit," explains Solman. "A lot of times we can avoid an apprehension based on Troy's knowledge of the services available that would be a better fit for the person instead of going to the hospital. We try to deal with things [at the community level] before the crisis escalates into a hospital visit."

Asked about their secret to success they say communication and a sympathetic ear go a long way toward "slowing down" delicate situations that can be further escalated by strictly a law enforcement-based approach.

Fedeli announced funding totalling $1.95 million from the Ontario government over three years to provide the North Bay Police Service with further resources to fight crime and keep citizens safe.

"Community safety is a top priority for our government," says Fedeli. "This investment is another way we are helping the North Bay Police address local challenges and improve the well-being of the people they serve. Whether to combat the opioid crisis, share intelligence, or prevent violent crime, this funding will make a difference in our community.”

Find the full breakdown of the funding below:

• $618,000.00 for the Community Outreach Officer Program, which will support two full-time officers with the North Bay Police Service dedicated to community outreach that will help increase public safety and reduce crime.
• $618,000 for the Mobile Crisis Team which is a community-led collaborative partnership between the North Bay Police Service and the North Bay Regional Health Centre. It will support the role of two full-time officers.
• $405,000 for the North Bay Police Analyst and Researcher Program, funds used to hire a dedicated full-time researcher to explore how to achieve more comprehensive data collection, evaluation, analysis and reporting on police interactions with individuals who may be experiencing mental health and/or addictions issues and economic uncertainty. In addition, a new specialized position to analyze the current opioid crisis in North Bay and
• the surrounding area will also be created.
• $309,000 for the Gateway Hub Officer Project which will support the role of full-time officer with the North Bay Police dedicated to the Gateway Hub. The Gateway Hub is a multi-sectoral risk intervention model that provides a front-line, multi-agency forum for identifying individuals and families who are at risk.

Tod says, “These four grants from the provincial government amount to a tremendous investment in the North Bay Police Service and will significantly bolster our ability to serve the people of North Bay and keep our community safe. Investments at this level show a profound commitment to the work we are doing as a police service. I am very thankful for our continued partnership with the provincial government."

The North Bay Police Service is one of 90 police service boards receiving funding through the Community Safety and Policing Grant Program for 147 public safety initiatives focusing on local and provincial priorities such as gun and gang violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, mental health and addictions and hate-motivated crime. Many projects will be undertaken in collaboration with community partners.

“This funding will support important community policing programs such as the Gateway Hub and Mobile Crisis Team, helping to ensure that the North Bay Police Service has the resources it needs to address critical needs in our community,” adds Mayor Al McDonald. 

The Community Safety and Policing Grant Program funding will be allocated over a three-year period: 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. Police services will be required to report twice a year on the financial activities and outcomes of their initiatives.