Both the North and South Division police stations of the South Simcoe Police were bustling on Saturday. The service, which provides policing to both Innisfil and Bradford West Gwillimbury, kicked off Police Week with open houses.
The public was invited to drop by, meet the officers, and check out displays set up in the parking lots at the two stations - displays that included Emergency Response Unit equipment, Marine Unit vessels, police cruisers, motorcycles and the service’s new ATVs.
Kids could sit inside the cruisers, and clamber onto the Sea-doos, heft the heavy ERU shields, and try on police hats and vests.
The vests themselves are fairly light, said Sgt. Henry Geoffroy, noting they weigh only 3.5 to about 5.5 kg, until they are fully packed with police gear. Then the vest and police belt can weigh substantially more, “depending what kit is on them,” he said. Officers can easily wind up carrying well over 10 kilograms of equipment, while performing their duties.
“It’s why we have fitness standards,” Geoffroy said.
One of the stars of the Open House was Police Service Dog Nitro, accompanied by human K-9 unit handler and partner, Const. Shawn Gwilliam.
Nitro, a German Shepherd from Slovakia, was selected for his pedigree and breeding, and brought to North America. But not every dog has the stamina or the temperament for police work, Gwilliam noted.
“I was lucky,” he said. Gwilliam and Nitro have bonded and Nitro has adapted well to the canine training program offered through York Regional Police, learning tracking, article searches, criminal apprehension, handler protection and narcotics detection at his handler’s side.
So how does PC Gwilliam ensure Nitro does as he’s asked? “It’s all based on rewards,” said the Constable. When PSD Nitro performs well, he is praised – and gets to play with a ball.
“His ball is the greatest thing in the world,” Gwilliam said.
There were a number of community partners participating in the open house.
Visitors could chat with firefighters about fire prevention, representatives of Crime Stoppers of Simcoe-Dufferin-Muskoka about the anonymous tip line and reward program that has helped police clear thousands of cases, and learn more about emergency preparedness from Emergency Management Simcoe County.
There was even an opportunity to drop off unwanted prescription drugs, narcotic or non-narcotic, anonymously and without charge – a first-time feature at the open house.
And several officers brought their guitars, forming an impromptu band and playing everything from classic rock ‘n roll to The Tragically Hip, to entertain the crowds.
The band's drummer was Police Chief Andrew Fletcher.
“I’ve been playing since I was eight, but it’s been a long time since I was in a band,” said Chief Fletcher. Suggestions for the band's name included “Incident Command” – the sign on the mobile command unit – and “The Police.”
The fun was all part of police outreach. The goal of the South Simcoe Police open house is “to get the public to come around and see what we do,” Chief Fletcher said, building bonds between cops and the community.
May 12 to 18 is Police Week in Ontario. This year's theme is, Proudly Supporting our Police.
