North Bay police look to open second office, looking at downtown location
North Bay police are looking at opening a second police station, with the downtown as a potential location. It is one of the suggestions considered in the police service’s five-year strategic plan presented Tuesday.
"I believe we're a downtown police service,” said Chief Scott Tod. “We're six blocks north of Main Street. We’ve heard loud and clear through the consultation process people would like to see a presence in the downtown area.”
He said the strategic business plan highlights the need to continue working with community partners.
“I call it the build, change, grow strategy," Tod said.
"It's about building a better service model and growing the service to be more successful and changing to our culture and adapt to the demands of the public."
As part of the plan, the police services board said community consultation found there was interest in a second office.
"That is something that we will need to look into and see how effective that is and relate it to costs, also," said board member and city councillor Johanne Brousseau.
The North Bay Police Service held a community consultation survey in August and September 2021, with the help of Oraclepoll Research.
In all, 72 per cent of respondents said they would like to see an increase in patrol cruisers and 44 per cent want to see more foot patrols downtown.
"The community does want to see more police in the downtown,” said Brousseau.
The Downtown North Bay and Waterfront business administrations service has been asking for a return of a downtown office for years.
"We feel the importance of having a police presence down here … is critical for our businesses as well our customers to feel safe and secure," said board member and business owner Barry Klus.
City police did have a downtown office in the late 1990s. Todd said it closed its doors because it wasn't feasible to continue.
He said other police agencies have adopted the idea to ensure police services are near areas where crime is higher.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.