The Community Services Bureau
The officers in our Community Services Bureau empower our community partners by engaging them in a variety of innovative programs and initiatives to create a seamless bridge between police and the community. The bureau implements programs ranging from youth programs, to crime prevention programs and from seniors programs to domestic violence investigations. These are all done with a focus on mobilizing, empowering and supporting our community.

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.

Community Partnerships Unit
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.

Community Mobilization Unit
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.

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.

2009 Highlight
Leadership and Opportunity Camp
 

Each year, the York Regional Police Community Services Bureau hosts four weeks of summer camp at the Community Safety Village of York Region, located within Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area in the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. Two weeks are dedicated to Leadership Camp and the other two weeks are dedicated to Opportunities Camp. Participants for both camps are selected by their schools for demonstrating good character and excellent leadership potential.

The camps left a lasting impression on 140 campers in 2009 and had a profound effect on at least one young man.

Marko Kuncic, whose son John attended one of the camps in 2009, spoke fondly of his son’s incredible experience.

"When John was selected to participate in the York Regional Police Leo McArthur Youth Leadership Camp, we were so proud of him," said Mr. Kuncic. "He and his friends had so many good things to say about the camp and its counsellors. They had so much fun taking part in various activities, sports and guest presentations."

John said he found a lifelong friend in his favourite camp counsellor, Constable Antoniella Passarelli, known to her campers as Pasta.

"John was so impressed with his counsellor, Pasta. She has done so much in her career as a police officer, and in sharing her stories with the kids, she really inspired them. Through her actions and words, she has influenced them in a lasting and positive way," said Mr. Kuncic. "My son benefitted greatly from the experience and it was noticeable how much he grew from his time at the Youth Leadership Camp."

Overall, the camps were an overwhelming success for all involved. Ninety Grade 4 and 5 campers participated in the fourth annual York Regional Police Leo McArthur Youth Leadership Camp, which engaged campers in a wide range of activities including demonstrations from our Emergency Response Unit, Search and Rescue Unit, Traffic Bureau and Dive Team. The cost of the camp was generously sponsored by local business man Leo McArthur and the Police Appreciation Night Dinner Committee.

For the second year in a row, 50 campers from Grades 6 and 7 took part in two week-long sessions of Youth Opportunities camp. The Youth Opportunities Camp was started through a grant received for the award-winning York Region Against Guns and Gangs (YRAGG) initiative. In their presentations, York Regional Police officers shared how character traits play an important role in how they perform their duties as police officers. Campers were treated to a visit from Canadian National Paralympian Tracey Ferguson, who taught them to never give up on their dreams. Campers also enjoyed an exciting talk from Toronto Argonauts player Chuck Winters.

But the true benefit drawn from the camps were the relationships built between youth and police officers.

"Sometimes, a person comes into your life and, even if it is only for a brief time, that person leaves a profound mark on the life they have touched," said Mr. Kuncic. "This is certainly what happened when the Youth Leadership Camp brought my son, and all the other children, to meet Constable Passarelli and the other amazing camp counsellors. It was truly an unforgettable experience."