Calls for North Bay police continue to rise as North Bay’s crime rate falls.
At the November meeting of the North Bay Police Services Board (NBSPB) on Thursday, Deputy Chief Shawn Devine told the board that about six calls per day are for issues relating to mental health.
Reporting on August statistics, Deputy Chief Devine assured the board he is quite optimistic that the calls will decrease as the community services develop to help transition individuals into the appropriate mental health service. “What we are able to see is that the mobile crisis unit is developing a good working relationship with the local organizations that deal with mental health.”
Deputy Chief Devine explained the NBSPB will be looking for funding assistance from the LHIN (Local Health Integration Network) through the North Bay Regional Health Centre for the program to continue.
“When we're talking about facts and figures, the importance thing can be left out, the person. What has been very clear is that our police officers are able to be more compassionate and more educated interacting with people who are in crisis and get them to the people who can best help.”
Deputy Chief Devine says North Bay Police continue to be busy despite the Canadian trend of lower rates of reported crime.
“Our call load in September was up 10%. That translates into 88 calls.”
The average has been 80 calls per day in 2015.
Also on the agenda were the results of three town hall meetings and the community survey used for input to update the general strategic plan of the board. Chief Paul Cook said 42 people answered the survey telling the NBPSB about core values they wish to be included and the preferred direction on policing challenges in the new strategic plan.
Chief Cook also reported good news on seized or unclaimed monies which had been in the possession of the police for several years. Under the Police Services Act, the police force may use the money if three months have elapsed since the day they came into the possession of it. Chief Cook said a total of $3369.21 will be deposited into the contingency line of the boards 2015 operating budget.
“The board can do whatever they want with those monies. The contingency fund is used to support community initiatives. It is important to note this money isn’t generated through taxes. It is either found seized monies or through our annual auction.”
$250 from the contingency fund we will be donated to Families First, the New Year's Eve community celebration. Other events that receive funding from the NBPSB are the Santa Needs Help LIPI campaign and the CIBC Run for the Cure.
Chief Cook expects to present the North Bay Police Services Board 2016 operating budget on November 27 and is hoping for a resolution to pass it at that time. With the cities new timeline, the budget should be ready to present to the Mayor and City Council on December 2.