MINDEMOYA—An influx of additional officers under a service delivery model has put the Manitoulin detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in good stead not only staff wise, but in ensuring appropriate service delivery to protect the communities it serves, says the newly appointed detachment commander for Manitoulin detachment.
“If you hadn’t already heard, congratulations are in order for (former acting inspector for Manitoulin detachment) Robert Walsh who was recently appointed detachment commander for Manitoulin detachment,” Al Boyd, chair of the Manitoulin Community Police Advisory Committee (CPAC) told members at a meeting last week. “The last time we met (May 10) you were the acting inspector-detachment commander and after a competition, you were the successful applicant. Welcome to the Island. I’m sure you are getting your feet wet. Congratulations. Welcome aboard.”
Detachment Commander Walsh told the meeting, “Under the new OPP service delivery model, once everything is rolled out completely we will have an additional 16 officers. The model is intended to support adequate staffing and ensure appropriate service delivery to protect the communities it serves. The Manitoulin detachment is one of five assessment locations throughout the province where the model is currently being piloted.”
“This program calculates how many officers are required to serve each detachment area, taking into consideration factors such as officer leave, response times, calls for service and community engagement,” said detachment commander Walsh. He explained, “for the Manitoulin detachment, that has meant a substantial increase in staffing levels, in order to meet the challenges and expectations of today’s complex policing environment. The results thus far have been tremendous and I am thrilled that Manitoulin is the benefactor of this new, all encompassing service model.”
“We are one of five assessment locations in the province for the new service delivery model,” said Detachment Commander Walsh.
Detachment Commander Walsh said the Manitoulin OPP detachment has had a very successful summer with its marine operational plans program. The detachment now has six qualified marine patrol officers.
“Each year the Manitoulin detachment engages in a robust marine program to ensure safety on our waterways. Our officers take a proactive approach to marine safety, working to educate boaters both on and off the water,” explained detachment commander Walsh. “Our membership regularly partners with our Indigenous policing partners and the Ministry of Natural Resources, with the joint goal of a safe summer boating season for all.”
“We are also seeing an across-the-board increase in officer proactive engagement,” said Detachment Commander Walsh. “This includes, for instance, increased engagement under the Highway Traffic Act, community engagement and community event engagement.”
“In recent months our officers have realized some incredible results. Through continuous proactive efforts we have seen substantial drug seizures including guns and high-risk offenders being taken off the streets. Officers regularly dedicate time to our Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E.) program and the results have been fantastic,” said Detachment Commander Walsh. “Their collective efforts are part of the OPP’s larger vision-safe communities, a secure Ontario.”
“We now have two mobile crisis response officers on Manitoulin Island detachment to assist in emergency in moments of need, or referrals after the fact to appropriate resources,” said Detachment Commander Walsh.
“Things have been going pretty good and I’m happy to be here,” Detachment Commander Walsh told The Expositor. “This is a very nice area and we are thrilled with the work all of our officers are doing.”
Detachment Commander Walsh came to Manitoulin OPP this past May from the East Algoma detachment. He has been with the OPP for the past 16 years (having started in 2007). He grew up in a policing family—his dad was with the OPP for 34 years until he retired for a year, then he went back and has been with the OPP for 45 years.
Detachment Commander Walsh also has an uncle and older brother who are both in policing.
As he told The Expositor previously, he started his career in Goderich, and has also been stationed with OPP in Wawa, Superior East for the past four years in Blind River. He took over the position of acting inspector of the Manitoulin OPP detachment on May 1.
Detachment Commander Walsh lives in Blind River with his wife and two children, a four-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son.
