If the Chatham-Kent Police Service can follow through on its recent announcements, it may have hit the sweet spot in combining technology with community policing.
Chief Kirk Earley touted the recently-enabled Next Generation 911 service as the ultimate upgrade in emergency communications during a joint media session with officials from Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue and Chatham-Kent Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
NG911, as it’s known, identifies the location of a caller within a few metres and provides instant results. In a field where saving seconds can save lives, the technology is transformational.
EMS, which currently runs its own call centre, will join police and fire in the new centre next year in dealing with the 3,000 911 calls each month, 80 per cent of which come from cell phones.
By 2027, the system will include real-time texting and video communication as well as translation capacity for non-English speaking callers.
Chatham-Kent (aided by $4 million in provincial funding) is among the first wave of 20 municipalities incorporating NG911. The federal government has mandated the system be adopted Canada-wide by 2027.
The second, although less shiny, initiative announced by Earley is enhanced community policing featuring a dedicated downtown Chatham foot-patrol and increased patrols in other downtown areas.
The actions are partially due to the ongoing problem with vandalism, homelessness and property damage.
Although they may be technically accurate, police responses to public complaints have come off as cold and uncaring.
The difference in having what is perceived as a faceless, nameless officer drive by a location occasionally, and police taking the time to interact with downtown residents and business owners is significant.
It may be considered old-school, but it worked.
Putting a face to a name and developing interpersonal relationships can provide valuable information to police.
Furthermore, it builds trust and confidence in the CKPS, which is always desirable.
For the effort to succeed, it will need continued support and acknowledgment from police management, now and into the future.
