Greater Sudbury Police Service’s chief compiled a report in which community mobilization and arrest numbers reflected the work being done in the city over the summer during the Greater Sudbury Police Service Board meeting earlier this week. “We’re not taking our foot off the pedal. You heard our board chair say that today we’re going to continue with our high visibility in the downtown and outwards of the downtown. You know, we know that it’s not unique to the downtown. We’ve really addressed, again, panhandling, you know, just loitering in the downtown and continuing to work with our community partners,” said Chief Sara Cunningham. “I think it indicated in the summer months we had 1,279 patrols downtown,” said board chair Gerry Lougheed Jr. “We want our presence to be known. We want to know people that need help are going to have people that can navigate them into the system.” Open-air drug use The chief said officers are also making more arrests for what they call open-air drug use. “What we’re hearing is it’s been lessened not only by our officers no longer seeing it as visible, but also from our partners in the downtown,” said Cunningham. Recruitment and officer duties While police are still just below the target for sworn officers, Cunningham said recruitment is a constant. The board heard that officers accompanying paramedics to violent calls 5-6 times a week is pulling officers away from other duties. “It’s often then they will be with them going to the emergency department,” said current Greater Sudbury Mayor and police board member Paul Lefebvre. “That takes time from that officer that is not patrolling our streets, that is not supporting other initiatives in our community.” Letter sent to province The board was also provided an update to the letter it sent to the province on homelessness, drug use and mental health challenges and its call for involuntary treatment. The Premier of Ontario is being looped into the discussions from multiple boards and agencies writing similar letters. “The conversation … (the) pro and con, all everybody’s opinion, all the letters received, all the suggestions we’ve received are all going to go to the Premier’s office so that he’ll be able to understand what that conversation looks like,” said Lougheed. Police representatives said officers will continue to take a compassionate approach to challenges related to drug use and homelessness while remaining committed to improving safety throughout the city.
