The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

9 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,A ugust 13,2020 theifp.ca FULL-SERVICE RETIREMENT HOME 905-877-1800 222 Mountainview Road North, Georgetown www.mountainviewresidence.com Seniors enjoy an independent lifestyle with comfortable accommodations, personal care and other supportive services. Retirement living can be the best of times when you live in an atmosphere of comfort and family caring. Mountainview Residence Of Georgetown Visit ontario.ca/coronavirus Paid for by the Government of Ontario Inside or out, stay safe. Save lives. As more businesses and services reopen, wemust all continue our efforts to protect each other. Get tested if you are worried you may have COVID-19, or have been exposed to the virus. Wear a face covering where physical distancing is a challenge or where required. Continue to practice physical distancing, stay two metres apart even in gatherings. Download the COVID Alert app to be notified if you may have been exposed to the virus. 2m Continue to wash hands frequently. One of those high school liaison officers is Const. Noel Bowes, who has been assigned to Milton public and Catholic schools for the past three years. Part of his responsibili- ty is to engage with youth and provide counsel on all the available resources in the region through day-to- day interaction, programs and events, and presenta- tions. He'd get invitations from teachers to make a presentation on a number of topics. Depending on the school grades, it may in- clude discussion on drugs, violent behaviour, and an- tisocial behaviour. "Some teachers will bring us in for a law pre- sentation and have an open forum and discuss with the young people regarding their interactions with po- lice and in the communi- ty," he added. Bowes, who has been with the force for 17 years, can often be seen across the schools or in the li- brary at lunchtime con- versing with staff and the students. "We stress to the (stu- dents) that we're there to support you and if you have any questions, we're there for any inquiries," he said. He also encourages them to find their voice and to speak up if they see something wrong. He said any concern about being a social pariah and labelled as a snitch is counterpro- ductive to why their par- ents raise them in a safe community like Halton. As has happened in the past, those who don't want to report of a troubling be- haviour in the community to an officer or a teacher can provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers. Colin Jessome, execu- tive director of the Halton chapter of Crime Stoppers, says the crime-prevention charity organization helps educate the public and catch "the bad guy," with a focus on drugs, human trafficking, robbery and thefts, frauds and scams, break and enters, and as- saults. Jessome said they re- ceive numerous tips from the general public about criminal acts throughout Halton, shootings includ- ed. As of January 2020, anonymous tips submitted to Halton Crime Stoppers contributed to the arrest of 1,250 individuals and 2,261 cases cleared -- with over $62,000 rewards paid, ac- cording to its website. In addition, the estimat- ed value of properties re- covered and drugs seized reached over $2.7 million and $18 million, respective- ly. For Bowes, being a friendly presence in the school areas helps shed the notion that police officers are only around when there's something going on or there's something wrong. "It's important to let them know that we're not the enemy," he said. CRIME Continued from page 8