The Community Services Bureau
 

The 71 sworn and nine civilian members of Community Services are responsible for building partnerships and engaging citizens in the community through innovative outreach programs, crime prevention initiatives and volunteer opportunities. The bureau is comprised of the Community Mobilization, Community Partnerships and Community Support Units.

Community Support Unit

The Community Support Unit focuses on building community partnerships, supporting and empowering vulnerable persons and capitalizing on the spirit of volunteerism to make a positive impact on the community. Community programs include Project Lifesaver, a program that uses state-of-the-art technology to locate lost or missing vulnerable people.

The York Regional Police Senior Liaison Officer is dedicated to educating and supporting our growing seniors community. The Senior Liaison Officer works closely with six dedicated seniors investigators across the region. Cases of suspected elder abuse are reviewed by the Senior Liaison Officer who then reaches out to seniors organizations and community groups to recommend follow-up care.

Last year, the Community Support Bureau held its first ever Seniors’ Day at the Community Safety Village, welcoming more than 125 seniors. The event provided seniors with valuable information on personal safety, crime prevention and the support services available within their community. More than 20 community partners organized workshops and exhibits, while our officers delivered presentations on traffic safety, identity theft and fraud prevention. Seniors had the opportunity to explore the village and enjoy a barbecue lunch. The day was designed to show our appreciation for seniors in York Region and was the first of many in the years to come.

Community Partnerships Bureau

Establishing and maintaining partnerships with the community are an integral part of our vision and values. More than 200 volunteers and auxiliary officers are highly visible in the community at parades, fairs and other community events. Auxiliary officers are also trained to assist in emergency situations such as natural disasters and searches for missing persons or evidence.

One of our most popular community programs is the Citizens Academy. The latest additions to the program include a Seniors edition and a Chinese language edition. The Citizens Academy is a community education initiative designed to provide the public with a working knowledge of York Regional Police. The program is offered directly to the Chinese community in both Cantonese and Mandarin and provides an opportunity for individuals to learn about police practices and operations and discuss key safety issues.

In addition to our community events and volunteers, the Community Partnership Unit also includes our Mental Health Support Team. The team allows us to offer a coordinated response to individuals in crisis. Working with community crisis workers and hospital staff, the team works to increase awareness of mental health issues and decrease the likelihood of hospitalization and/or apprehension of mentally ill individuals.

In 2010, the Community Partnerships Bureau held an Evening of Music in support of Special Olympics at the Newmarket Theatre. The event was attended by more than 200 people and featured performances by three of the talented York Regional Police volunteer musical groups: The Male Chorus, Pipes and Drums and the newly-formed Youth Band. The event marked one of the first public performances by the Youth Band, which was developed as an innovative way to promote positive interaction between youth and police.

Community Mobilization Bureau

With a two-pronged focus on crime prevention and youth partnerships, the Community Mobilization Bureau includes the Community Safety Village and the Crime Prevention and Youth Programs units.

The Community Mobilization Bureau hosted its annual Crime Prevention Week in November. A kickoff event was held at the Community Safety Village, where citizens participated in demonstrations and clinics from York Regional Police and our community partners. Officers made door-to-door visits in numerous neighbourhoods promoting crime prevention strategies and discussing crime issues with members of the community. Public information sessions were also conducted at District Headquarters across the region. The week closed with a five-kilometre run hosted by Joint Opportunities Georgina.

Crime Prevention Unit

The Crime Prevention Unit includes Community Programs, Guns and Gangs and our Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Program.

The five members of the Guns and Gangs Crime Prevention Unit are tasked with bringing to life the award-winning York Region Gangs and Guns and Youth Violence Strategy, focused on reducing violence through proactive education and enforcement.

The Crime Prevention Unit also includes designated CPTED officers who educate local business owners and the public on how to reduce their chances of becoming victims of crime through the safer design of buildings and landscapes.