The Police Services Board Meets Once a Month
May Meeting Notes:
Verbal Update by Inspector Miller
“Inspector Miller advised the members that he will be providing the trends analysist for
2020 to 2021. This information will provide the consistent occurrences, time of day
they mostly occur and will affectively allocate the Ontario Provincial Police to the
tackle these specific trends.
He advised that there was a 2 to 3 percent decrease in drug occurrences. He stated
that Marijuana became legal and this attributes to the decrease. He advised however
that Opioid overdoses are increasing and that fentanyl seizures have increased.
He advised that within the Town of Essex, from 2017 to 2021 there was a total of 19
overdoses that resulted in death. He stated the Town of Essex is on the low end of the
scale compared to other communities within the County of Essex.
Inspector Miller continued to state that Domestic Abuse calls have increased all over
the County. He stated that there was a fall in 2019 to 2022 however in in 2021 there
was 171 in the Town of Essex alone and the locations are within Essex, Harrow and
McGregor centres.
He stated that Automobile thefts have increased by 18 percent within the County. He
commented that Town of Essex residents are very good at locking their vehicles and stated
thefts have occurred more frequently in Essex Centre and McGregor.
He continued that Motor Vehicle accidents have increased, and he stated that drug
and alcohol related accidents are transpiring more frequently. He advised that
impaired drivers are being stopped between 6 and 10 a.m. and during late afternoon
hours after work and dinner. He stated that the community has stepped up and has
been calling the 911 line when they see something. He encourages the community to
be the eyes and ears of the Ontario Provincial Police so that they can ensure the
roadways are safe as everyone deserves to go home at the end of the day safely.
CAO Doug Sweet Raises Concerns About Vandalism
Doug Sweet, Chief Administrative Officer, stated that there has also been an increase
within the Town of Essex with regards to vandalism. He stated that profanity, sexual
content, and hate crime vandalism has gotten out of control throughout the
community.
P/C Brusseau stated that focused patrols are transpiring in the areas of concern and
foot patrols are happening day and night to try and apprehend the culprits.
Police Services Board Meeting Minutes May 5 2022
Inspector Miller recommended to the Town of Essex that signs be placed at the
subject properties and state that it is a chargeable offence and when caught they will
be charged under the criminal code.
Vice Chair McGuire-Blais suggested that an Ontario Provincial Police officer walk through the
community in the areas of concern and hand out their cards to residents so that if
they see something, they can call immediately.
Chair Verbeek recommended training staff on Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design (CPTED) and that administration start a social media campaign
with the consequences of vandalizing Town property and the charges that can occur
from it.
Inspector Miller stated that he could provide Ontario Provincial Police Officers to train
staff in CPTED so that they be more vigilant.
Chair Verbeek Pushes for Return of Officers to the Public Board
Chair Verbeek asked Inspector Miller if something can be said to students during Value
Influence Peers (VIP) that the Ontario Provincial Police do with the grade school
students.
Inspector Miller advised that they are currently only in the Catholic Board schools and not
the Public Board. Officers who attend will educate the youth on the
possible consequences of vandalism as well as the importance of speaking up if they
see or know of anything.
Top Calls in Essex
Constable Brusseau advised that the top calls for service were the following:
(31) Property Checks, stated that the Town has requested the increase in property
checks due to the vandalism that has been transpiring. The increase is also do to
patrols happening in dealerships lots as catalytic converters have also been stolen.
(27) Traffic Enforcement, officers have been posted to County Rd 8, County Rd 12,
County Rd 23 and County Rd 50 West. As well as Talbot Street North and South, Iler
Road, Gesto Road, and within the McGregor Hamlet. He advised from those (10)
tickets were provided to drivers and (9) warnings.
(18) Traffic Complaints, Impaired driving calls with aggressive driving and speeding
concerns.
(25) False Alams, there were (11) instances at Essex high school and (3) at the Harrow
Arena.
(23) Bylaw, animal complaints were (10) with (8) noise complaints.
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Police Services Board Meeting Minutes May 5 2022
(7) Violent Crimes, he advised that this could be one offender with multiple charges
(16) Criminal Code, he advised that there was an incident with a minor and another
one that was a domestic case.
(18) Mental Health, he advised that most were follow up calls from previous months.
(110) Foot Patrol Hours, this increase is due to the mischief that has occurred.
(20) Auxiliary Hours, he advised that they are currently seeking auxiliary members.
Doug Sweet, Chief Administrative Officer questioned if the Ontario Provincial Police
have a way to determine where the Motor Vehicle Accidents and Traffic Complaints
transpire frequently. He stated as an example, on County Rd 23, or Gesto Side Road,
County Road 15 or 3rd Concession. He advised that if there was a way to determine
which roads that if on Town roads and not County road they would like to assist the
Ontario Provincial Police by curbing those infractions.
