Members of the public had their chance to share their thoughts on the work of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) during the inaugural Coffee with the Cops meeting on June 29 at the Estevan Leisure Centre’s multipurpose room.
More than 20 people attended the event, including members of the EPS and the Estevan Board of Police Commissioners, as well as the general public. The EPS was looking for the public’s feedback on what the police do well, and areas that need improvement, as the EPS is embarking on a strategic plan.
Police Chief Paul Ladouceur opened the meeting by discussing some of the changes that have occurred within the EPS in recent years and the equipment that they have purchased. He also tried to refute some of the myths associated with policing, particularly when it comes to the number of tickets they distribute.
They have added numerous units and specialized positions to complement their four patrol units.
“Police services cost big dollars. There’s no doubt about it,” said Ladouceur. “It … consumes a big portion of any city’s … budget.”
But he also stressed the EPS has received about $1 million in provincial government funding in each of the last two years, through grant applications and other revenues, taking away some of the burden from local taxpayers.
Inspector Murray Cowan, who has been part of the EPS since 1995, noted this is likely the first time the EPS has hosted an event like Coffee with the Cops in a decade.
He is amazed with the changes that have occurred in the community, and with the EPS, during his career.
“When I started here, there were 16 police officers,” said Cowan. “We had four four-man platoons, and no specialized units.”
The EPS now boasts 26 officers.
The community has also seen a big increase in the drug trade, and in the presence of organized crime. The EPS has also placed a bigger emphasis on community-based police initiatives, such as open houses and meetings.
There was an opportunity for people to publicly ask questions to police. Gary St. Onge wanted to know about the growing number of mental health and domestic dispute calls since the economic downturn started two years ago.
“We’re still busy,” said Ladouceur. “We see different types of offences, different types of crimes, different types of calls for service. Generally, when the pressure is put on through financial … problems, we tend to link that to domestic violence.”
Officers then spoke with the public during one-on-one sessions. Ladouceur noted that mental health was a recurring question posed by the public, and it’s a big issue for police in the province.
“A lot of times we find the root cause to crimes and other things is related to mental health issues,” said Ladouceur.
The multi-agency southeast hub program and consultations with mental health are two avenues the police have at their disposal when dealing with mental health cases.
They are also starting to see a resurgence of impaired driving calls.
“Most of the comments … were actually compliments with how we’ve been dealing with some of these concerns,” said Ladouceur. “When we look at texting and driving, for example, the stance we took collaboratively … was to partner on a media campaign with the other emergency services.”
They also received a lot of praise for their community engagement efforts, such as school visits and interactions with youth.
The strategic plan is slated to be released next year. The EPS will distribute a public survey later this year, as part of the planning efforts. They will also discuss trends in the community with their members, and consult with the police board.
The police chief expects the EPS will release a strategic plan each year with their goals and priorities, along with a long-term business plan every three to five years. This is the first strategic plan undertaken by the EPS that he’s aware of.
“We want to be very transparent with the community we serve,” said Ladouceur. “We believe we should share our priorities and concerns with the community. It assists with a goal to strive for, and sets in motion how do we get from here to there.”
Ladouceur stressed that it’s important for the EPS to evaluate the challenges they believe they will face in the future, so they can deal with them when those problems arise.
It’s also important to keep up with technology, such as mobile workstations in police cars, so that officers can file reports while on patrol, rather than coming into the police station. Those computers will also provide easier access to information to identify suspects.
Ladouceur was pleased with the attendance for the Coffee with the Cops, since it was the first time they have hosted such an event in a number of years. He vowed community engagement will be a big part of the EPS in the future, with such events as Coffee with the Cops, their annual open house in the summer, and the EPS half-marathon, which was held for the first time last fall.
“If someone is displeased, they have to speak up because if you remain silent, and expect the police to have that crystal ball about your concerns, your issues likely aren’t going to be addressed,” said Ladouceur.
The police don’t always have all the solutions to problems, but solutions are out there among the community as a whole.
