Back to SearchThe Kenora Police Services Board is pleased to release the results of the community policing survey that was conducted late last summer.
The survey objective was to determine what the community’s policing service priorities were for the City of Kenora. Questions about personal safety, the community, the characteristics of the police force, and how to improve policing were asked to draw a clear picture about policing expectations and perceptions in the community.
Over 700 people responded, with 96% of those being permanent full-time residents of Kenora. 80% of the respondents indicated they feel safe at home, and for the most part, feel safe in their own neighbourhood. Over 70% do not feel safe walking downtown at night alone.
There was agreement that the public is confident in calling 911 and will report if they have been a victim of crime. Most consider the Kenora OPP to be approachable in public and rarely or never exceed their authority but are effective in their role, and respond quickly to emergency situations. In fact, responding promptly to calls for service was rated as the police activity most important, followed by a concentrated effort on drug dealers, and visibility on patrol.
Several respondents recognized that the Kenora OPP are working in a difficult situation with mental health and addiction issues monopolizing their time. Incidentally, drug use was the issue the majority would like the Kenora OPP to spend more time focusing on, along with violent and sexual crimes, and youth violence.
There were many suggestions on how to improve policing in the City of Kenora. Most of the comments focused on downtown and mental health issues. Using the findings in the survey to make positive changes will help the Kenora OPP to focus on and address the major concerns of the community. Based on the feedback, the Kenora OPP have made the following changes to policing:
- Partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association Kenora Branch to bring two Mobile Crisis and Outreach teams to the Citizens of Kenora and Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls. The teams respond and deal with calls for service dealing with mental health.
- Partnered with the Kenora Chiefs Advisory to bring a Joint Mobile team that deals with youth aged 12 to 24.
- Partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association Kenora Branch for the creation of a Safe Bed Program. This program is a short-term residential program that provides persons who are 16 years of age and older in mental health and addiction crisis with a short term stay of 30 days with 24/7 residential crisis support services. In order to be eligible, clients need to be in contact with law enforcement and experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Increased the size of our Community Street Crime Unit to deal with street level drug enforcement and property crime calls for service.
- Assigned members daily to conduct foot patrols of the downtown core and other high crime areas. Soon we will be moving our Community Policing Office to another highly visible downtown location.
- Report calls for service to the local media weekly to educate the public on the number of calls and the type of situations responding to regularly.
The Kenora Police Services Board thanks those who took time to complete the important community survey. Now that the survey is closed, it is important to ensure the public hears the feedback and priorities of the community.
View the full report on our Police Services Board page.
Heather Pihulak, Manager of Administration/City Clerk
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