White River Policing Committee First Out of the Block
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White River Volunteers Leading Community Watch Initiative In Area
WHITE RIVER, ON – A group of local individuals including; Marg McMillan, Ross McMillan, Wendy Carroll, Sandy Killingbeck, Velma Desmoulin, Cathy Newhouse, Eric Belanger, Debbie Duplassie, Rollie Walsh, Joyce Anderson, Manager “Des” A & W, and Shirley Hatley, has formed a Community Policing Committee, similar to Road Watch/Community Watch initiatives in the suburbs of Southern Ontario communities, that may be the 1st of it’s kind in our area. “Crime Prevention through Community Engagement” is how the Ontario Provincial Police website* describes the movement to establish these types of groups going on to explain that:
The concept of Community Watch has existed for hundreds of years. Originally, townspeople would grab a lantern and walk various business districts to prevent crime. Their presence was obvious and served as a deterrent to those looking to commit crimes. Over the years, the program evolved into neighbours meeting to discuss community issues, learn crime prevention techniques and share information. Neighbours worked together to maintain an awareness of the activities that surrounded them and to report crime as it occurred. The seeds for community mobilization in support of crime prevention and community safety had gradually been planted. The Community Watch Program has recently evolved into a variety of problem-oriented Watch programs that are community-driven and police supported. In partnership with local police, community members may learn how to make their homes and businesses less inviting for opportunistic criminals, how to participate in other crime prevention programs and how to recognize and safely report any suspicious activity in their respective neighbourhoods (Neighbourhood & Rural Watch), businesses (Business Watch), cottages (Cottage Watch) and highways (Road Watch).
It is the latter, Road Watch, which most closely describes White River’s volunteer initiative. The volunteer group will endeavour to assist with stranded motorists when inclement weather causes road closures or severe delays due to a traffic accident only upon the request of the OPP.
Though it is a community’s needs which determine what or all programs that are required, it is the community-driven support that remains critical for program sustainability and overall success of each program implemented. There must also always be an adequate number of community volunteers that agree to form a Community Watch Committee.
says the Ontario Provincial Police ending it’s statement regarding Community Watch Programs (Including Road Watch which is described very much as is the White River Community Policing Project) by adding that;
Strong individual, community, and police support is what enables a Community Watch program to be effective and by working together, we may all work towards our vision of safe communities – a secure Ontario.
‘Community-driven’ and ‘Strong individual, community, and police support‘ seem to be fitting descriptions of the White River team as residents, municipal leaders and businesses have all stepped-up to give their time and efforts working with Superior East O.P.P. Detachment for this cause. OPP Staff Sergeant Dan Dawson of the Superior East Detachment stated that “To my knowled, this group is the first group of its kind in this area”.
The group of concerned citizens and business owners met at the local arena in October, with Algoma District Service Administration representative from Wawa, Ontario Provincial Police representation. The local Husky Station is currently open 24 hours a day, Walsh’s ESSO and Gift Store along with the A & W advised they will remain open until midnight if required while others will do so from midnight to 6am; this to offer a local place for travellers to gather during those hours if requested by the O.P.P.
PLEASE NOTE: Marg McMillan felt it important to clarify, this initiative was not related to the 17hr Greyhound stay-over in January 2011.
*CLICK HERE to view the OPP webpage from which Community Watch/Road Watch information was quoted.
