#1 District
240 Prospect Street, Newmarket

Command Team:
Superintendent Stan Colley
Inspector Rick McCabe

Under the guidance of the #1 District command staff – Superintendent Stan Colley and Inspector Rick McCabe - 174 police officers and seven civilian
members provide policing services to a population of more than 180,000 residents. Geographically the area is the largest of our five districts and includes the Towns of Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket, as well as the northern reaches of Whitchurch-Stouffville and the Township of King.

 OUR OFFICERS IN ACTION

Tackling Street-Level Crime
In an area as geographically large as York Region, police can often have a greater impact in responding to crime and community concerns by distributing resources over several crime prevention and law enforcement initiatives, as well as using the skills of officers in specialized units as support. 2008 proved to be such a year for #1 District.

Members of #1 District concentrated on several projects and initiatives aimed at improving safety and increasing police visibility across its service area. Working as a strong and committed community team, Gang Prevention Officers and School Resource Officers from the Community Services Bureau joined members of the #1 District Property Crime Unit and the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) in a targeted effort to reduce incidents of graffiti across District boundaries. Their focus included education, awareness and enforcement.

Constable Shayne Mulligan is a member of the Graffiti Abatement Committee, which was formed in 2007 with municipal and community partners. He helped identify 25 new taggers and 26 locations slated for clean up. In partnership with the Town of Aurora and local businesses who donated materials and food for a barbeque, officers held a Graffiti Clean-Up Day in September, which was a great success. This event and subsequent clean-up days raise awareness among residents about the negative effects of graffiti and vandalism and let the citizens know local stakeholders – police, government, businesses and community groups – are actively addressing the issue.

Constable Mulligan, who continues to work with municipal and community partners on this issue, earned the 2008 Aurora Optimist Club Respect for the Law Award for his efforts.

Graffiti has many negative effects on our community and millions of dollars are spent annually on graffiti removal in Canada. It contributes to reduced property values, a decline in commercial sales, increased crime rates in affected areas, decreased use and enjoyment of public facilities and it diminishes citizens’ feelings of safety and security.

These incidents tend to centre around individuals who refer to themselves as taggers and commonly use spray paint and large thick markers for their purposes. They place a common marking or name on various types of property at a variety of locations. They believe that these markings are artistic; however they can cause thousands of dollars of damage.

In December 2008, officers wrapped up a six-month investigation into more than 70 complaints of graffiti and damage to property from local homeowners, businesses and building contractors. On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, as a result of this extensive investigation, officers arrested a 15-year-old boy and later that day, executed a Criminal Code search warrant at a residence in the Town of Aurora. Several markers, sketch pads and photos of graffiti were seized. A second suspect wanted in connection with these incidents, an 18-year-old man, surrendered to police several days later.

In total, 84 charges were laid against eight individuals in connection with graffiti incidents in #1 District in 2008. In addition, 30 youths were arrested for similar offences, but were dealt with under the alternative provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which could include clean up, paying for damages or making otherrestitution to property owners.

A second successful initiative in #1 District dealt with street-level drugs. A concerted effort was made to target drug dealers and drug houses that had been identified by police intelligence sources or reported to police by citizens. Over the course of an 11-month investigation, in partnership with the Drugs and Vice Enforcement Bureau, officers in CIB and the Community Oriented Response (COR) Unit identified and arrested 195 people in 126 separate incidents – 87 in Newmarket, 24 in Aurora, eight in East Gwillimbury, six in King ownship and one in northern Whitchurch-Stouffville.

Officers in #1 District also continued an ongoing initiative which was implemented in 2006, combining the skills of the #1 District Crime Analyst and officers in Uniform, CIB and COR who came together to actively investigate and track down individuals wanted on arrest warrants. In 2008, 120 arrests were made with charges laid under the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Family Responsibility Act. Since the initiative began, 434 warrants have been issued and 313 people have been arrested.

York Regional Police is committed to vigorously investigating complaints of sexual services being provided at commercial or residential locations. In January 2008, Property Crime Unit officers, in partnership with the Drugs and Vice Enforcement Bureau, began an investigation into unusual activity at a Davis Drive spa, which revealed the establishment was operating as an illegal massage parlour. Three women were arrested for Common Bawdy House offences under the Criminal Code.

Officers from #1 District continued their dedication to traffic safety, targeting common traffic offences including proper seatbelt use and child safety seat installation, speeding, aggressive driving and failing to stop for red lights at high-collision intersections. In total, 614 Highway Traffi c Act charges were laid during these initiatives.

Responding to community concerns and working in partnership with other York Regional Police units led to success in a variety of areas for #1 District staff.