PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1976, WHITBY FREE PRESS W, HY PLICE SAT Assistant Editor - Blake Purdy SERVING OVER 28000 READERS cevery wnesdrayCommunity Editor - Brian Winter SEVNGOE 2,00RAER dcdy Contributing Editor - Jim Quail Production Manager - Marje Burgess Display Advertising Manager - ~~whibY WRobin Lyon by M.B.M. Publishing Classified Ad Manager - and Photography Inc. Marlene Byrom Sharon Lyon Box 206, Whitby. The Free Press Building Mailing Permit No. 2941 121 Brock Street North, Phone 668-6111: Toronto Line 282-1004 Voice of the County Town Mike Burgess, Publisher-Managing Editor. Wlty,Ontario. Former chief Bill Pilkington: "The- Ontario Police Commission can ca| in the O.P.P." EDITOR'S NOTE: Fol- lowing is a copy of an article by Bill Pilkington, Whitby police chief from the end of 1968 to the end of 1973, when the region assumed responsibility for policing. Mr. Pilkington presented a brief similar to this article at last week's public meet- ing on the region's- decision to close the Whitby police station on Rossland Road. by BILL PILKINGTON It would appear that the poli-cies of the Durham Force relating to the func- tions of police buildings, etc. are at least 10 to 15 years bebind the times. It was thought in those days that the "Super Station" was the answer to policing - to centralize the entire operation and thus cut down on over- head which would result in more effective use of personnel. This proved to be an expensive mistake as the crime rate increased and it became apparent that law enforcement had separated itself from the citizens that it served. The advocates of this system (usually the local chief of police who has con- vinced the members of his police commission) always came up wiîth the statement that "the citizens will receive a superior service" which does not work out. This is not, in effect, what the people wan.t - an impersonal service. It lias generally been accepted for ycars tbat Com- munity policing is much superior because there is a communication and dialogue between the police and the BILL PILKINGTON public. This -team policing" (in which the public gets more involved) is being practiced by the City of London, Barrie, Calgary, and West Vancouver. lndeed the Durham Force sent two of its senior officers to Calgary some time ago to study their methods. It would appear that they have chosen to proceed in the other direc- tion. Il mnay be argued that there are problens becatise of shortage of manpower in the Durham Force. This may be caused by the forma- tion of "Special Service" branches - youth bureau, training bureau, etc. (I an not saying that these Services are not desirable but if there is a shortage of manpower the first priority is for patrol officers and investigators). The former Deputy Chief of Whitby, Inspector Robinson, who is an excellent trained investigator is being used as an office anager. Likewise, the CommunicationssDepart- ment is staffed rnoslly by trained police officers. AIl of these jobs could be perfori- Co-ordinator of Scouting: Community's youngsters need the police station EDITOR'S NOTE: Fol- lowing is a copy of a brief prepared by and presented at last week's public meeting on the region's decision to close Whiîby's police station by Russ Wilde, Co-ordinator of Scouting for the Whitby District. by RUSS WILDE As Co-ordinator of Whitby District Boy Scouts I feel that Whiîby as a Town stili nceds its own Police Station. The Scouting movement in the Town of Whitby is young people. Their are over 2500 associated persons involved 'in scouîing in Whitby as represeritative of these people. We are asking Council and the Regional Police Com- mission to reconsider the proposed closing of the Whitby Station. Whitby has always had a Police Station. As a young person, I was there more thari once. Shave been to the new police station we have in Whiîtby. The youngsters of our community need and have come 10 know that tlhe Police Station is where you find the policemen and that they are the ones who keep Law and Order. The police officer is a symbol of Law and Order and the police station is where you find the officer and also where you will end up should you fail to keep the Law. A Local Police Station is although not a fact, easier on the young or ever headl 10 go to voluntarilly thanr e have to go into a larger complex. People have the feeling that this officer knows them, having been in tbe com- muniîty and is therefore a natural part of their living. To go in a Police Com- plex like Oshiawa, which I1 have, a person lias the feeling of being up against strangers that arc out 10 gel bim even tliourgh the person may be the local Police Officer. As a father of four boys and Co-ordinator of Boys Scouts, I strongly support the Town of Whitby in the -need and the requirement of a full-time Whitby Police Station. cd just as efficiently and at1 considerably less expense by civilian personnel. To bring about "Com- munity policing" il would bei necessary to not only keepj the'Whitby station open but also to staff it with a patrol force of officers -rather than, or in addition, to the "Safety Officers" who nor- mally work only days and whose activities are directed to the schools. The Officer in charge of the station should be a local resident and be well known to the resjdents (How many know the naine of the present Officer in charge who, like the other station commanders in the Durham Force, live in Oshawa and were former members of that force). A "Store Front" operation where officers go c-or the the purpose of having their lunch and making reports (on the day shift) is a "saw off" type of service and hardly suitable for our town· with its rapidly increasing popula- tion - il is indeed a massive step backwards. If such an operation existed there :ould be problems in regards to parking (on the street in front of the stores whose operators are already strapped for suf- ficient parking). The renova- lion, heating and lighting along with telephone costs and rental charges make it an expensive part time service. What happens to the Safety Officers - are they to be cramied into the Oshaa building %vhich noýv serves jointly as an Administratiorn Building and police station? The Safety vans and officers* vehiicles wvould furthcr con- trbute to a parking problem at police headquarters. The local J.P. Mr. larold Rowley wvas provided wib a small ronnm in the p.ulmce station. Ne provided the citizens with an excellent service wvhen they camne 10 hlimr for advice on many of the day to day problems-- domestic, non payment of nvagvs assauls etc. Wil be nowv have to0 use his home fo r this purpose? The Detectives u were all removed to Oshawab at the inception of the force. To speak to one of these inv reference to a criminal matterr involves a journey to Head-1 quarters. A recent newspaperr article stated that the Durham 2 Force had a considerable back-' log of cases and somet occurrences would have to wait for attention. It is reasonable to assume that offences occurring in a more distant area would rate a lower priority and certainlyi take longer for the investiga-i tors to reach the scene. The present Municipal1 Building in Whitby may offer a greater access to the public at the present time but will it be viable in years to come'? There are no "lock up" facilities and the cost of operation will not be too iuch less than at the present building. Wouhl it be fair to the residents of greater Whitby, especially in the north end, to move the station into the business area'> A further consideration is the rising cost of gasoline. It is said that we will be paying over SI.00 a galion in the near future (gas rationing in 5 years?). This fact, along with the need for community policing, lias caused some municipalities to plan to curtail mileage on municipal police vehicles by shorter runs to patrol areas. Fewer vehicles and more foot patrois (we don't often sec a foot patrol in \Whitby), Officers would bave greaîly extended mileage to reach their patrol arcas ana as a result will be absent for longer periods during lunch breaks, reports and change of shift. It wort take long for the criminal element to figure ibis out. Iimagine wbat the situation would be if we îried 10 operate with or";y one station to service the whole of Oshawa and Wbiîby. With the Administration and field services being contained in the one building it would be only a matter of a short time until another station would be required - in Oshawa. The new Whitby station was built for four prime reasons: 1. To assure that 'Com- munity Policing" would be a fact in Whitby. 2. To provide quick access to ail parts of the new town of Whitby. 3. To supply safe "lock up" facilities to the Court House when required. 4. To be part of the new municipal complex for the new town. Regionalization was sup- posed to have provided a superior service to the publie - I have yet to sec it. What I do sec is the visible outward sigus of a force that has little direction of self respect - Officers seen on the streets and in public places dressed in part uniform and part civilian clothes; any time of the night or early morning, the Canadian flag can be seen flying outside of Headquarters and 18 Division notwith- standing the fact that at the County Court building across the road our national ernblem is taken down at sunset and raised at sunrise. i would recornnend the following: (1) Thiat ail the members of the Regional Board of Commissioners of Police be asked to attend at the public meeting (I have reason to suspect that some of 1te memt>ers may have a cnange of art if they become known 10 tle public). (2) That a request be sent to the Solicitor General, The lion. John P. MacBeth, Q.C., to have a senior officiai (preferaby the Chairm-an Mr. Elmer Bell, Q.Cm., of the Ontario Police Commission to attend. (3) To keep in mmd that the Police Act states thatif a municipality fails to provide adequate" poiing that the Ontario Police Commission can cali in the O.P.P. If this happens. ve wili, at icast, have a fuily mannedstation in the town. For comparison purposes, here are some figures for tle year 1975: Force Durham Region York Region Niagara Region Peel Region Sudbury Region Halton Region Ratio of police personnel per person (does not include civilians) 1 officer for every 828 persons 1 officer for every 659 persons 1 officer for every 742 persons i officer for every 659 persons 1 officer for every 786 persons 1 officer for every 934 persons per capita cost S32.81 36.79 33.00 35.45 33.08 28.55 *Halton is the highest ratio and Durham the second highest. It would appear that some of the other regions are providing a better ratio for a slightly higher rate (probably hiring more civilians). Whitby with a population of 26,765 should then have the services of just over 32 officers (inciuding detectives, "safety officers"). In comparison with most other regions, it appears to be under-serviced. - -,,,, ,,'~ -. ~ / 8 mm 10 %el 8%0 @%r mw w m w M-- 1 1 1 F