WIIKWEMKOONG—The Wiikwemkoong Tribal Police Service (WTPS) is continuing to work toward making some positive changes and improving community relationships as it struggles with being able to provide police services on a 24 hour, seven day a week basis.
“Certainly, our men and women are doing amazing work in the community,” stated Acting Chief of Police Jason Spooner. “Our officers do a tremendous job providing 24/7 safety and security in the community on a wide array of calls for service.”
“We all know the struggles that the police service has gone through over the last little while, but in the three months I have been here I have seen positive changes being made.” He pointed out that he and Acting Staff Sergeant Chris Wesley were seconded by the police service from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). “We have focussed on improving our relationship with the community and schools.”
WTPS held a ‘Coffee with a Cop’ promotion on May 23 in conjunction with police week 2023. “This was an event one of my staff had suggested and it was a very successful event,” said Acting Staff Sergeant Spooner. “There must have been 100 people on hand during the day. Officers took visitors on a police cruiser tour, while there was Tim Horton’s coffee, donuts and Timbits on hand, along with freezies for the children.” The event was organized by Crisis responder Raven Manitowabi with the assistance of summer student Sierra Pangowish.
Acting Chief of Police Jason Spooner and Acting Staff Sergeant Chris Wesley were on hand to talk to members of the public who visited. Acting Sergeants Jamie Shawanda and Michael Deacon were happy to serve a few students and community members as well. Constable Gabriel DiSalvo was available showcasing the police vehicles and ATV to the students.
WTPS will see an increase in officer complement of 14 officers over the next three years. “We have nine openings currently,” said Acting Chief of Police Spooner. He noted it is getting tougher for all police departments to recruit new officers. “At one point there was a lot more interest. We are at a disadvantage on Manitoulin because we are remote, and finding housing can be difficult.”
However, “we now have a police residence that allows off-Island officers, say from Sudbury, to use as accommodations while they are here,” he said. The WTPS is renting this house from the community.
“With this residence we can set up so that our officers who are on patrol can use this house, and we can include in job advertisements that this house is available for officers from other areas to use to serve on the WTPS,” continued Acting Chief of Police Spooner. “So, if an officer is hired from another area but works here and is on a four-day work schedule they don’t have to drive home, they can stay in the house here. This could become a model effort for recruiting officers in the North, and we feel it should help in increasing the number of officers that apply for a job with our police service.”
“It has been a troubling couple of years for policing all over,” said Acting Chief of Police Spooner. “Its unfortunate but it’s the reality of the current world we live in. A lot more things are magnified in terms of mental health and drug addiction.”
“Everyone is trying to look out of the box in the area of recruiting,” said Acting Chief of Police Spooner.
Acting Chief of Police Spooner said, “we recently signed a one-year agreement with Ontario and the federal governments for funding. We will reassess where we are in a year and where we want to be.” He said WTPS is looking to start up a crime unit (detectives), and now have a drug enforcement officer community street crime unit. WTPS has a mental health crisis worker and is looking to have a court unit to manage court case files. They are also hoping to add a third special constable and just recently hired a human resources manager.
“Currently we have nine vacancies on our police force,” said Acting Chief of Police Spooner. “Our complement of officers is now 31 after signing the agreement with the governments, and we hope to be hiring nine in the next year.”
“Our priorities over the summer include recruitment, drug enforcement and traffic education and enforcement,” added Acting Chief of Police Spooner.
