This new monthly message is part of my commitment to ongoing engagement and transparency. Please reach out to news@thunderbaypolice.ca with questions and feedback that will shape future reports as well as our social media content.
September 2024
So far this year (from January 1 to August 31), Thunder Bay Police Service has responded to 1,484 calls related to mental health. That’s an average of 185 calls per month.
Highly-trained officers and crisis response workers de-escalate situations, determine people's needs and connect them with supports and resources they need. TBPS collaborates with many organizations for the best outcomes. St. Joseph’s Care Group (SJCG) is one of them.
Deputy Chief Ryan Hughes spoke at a recent Town Hall regarding SJCG’s Withdrawal Management Services site swap to enhance the program. Research tells us withdrawal programs work, supporting people to battle addictions and avoid interactions with the law. This helps to address the root causes of drug-related crimes and calls for service, keeping our entire community safer and our dedicated Officers able to respond to more appropriate calls.
Police response to calls relating to mental health and addictions was the topic most survey respondents chose for Chat with the Chief events. Please join me as I discuss and answer questions about this, as well as safety in the downtown core:
Wednesday, October 9
3:30 p.m.
St. Joseph’s Hospital, Living Wall area
35 Algoma Street North
Another Chat with the Chief with a focus on responding to violent crimes, guns and gang activity, and safety in the downtown core will take place:
Wednesday, November 27
5:30 p.m.
Brodie Resource Library
216 Brodie Street South
I invite all to attend and look forward to sharing information and answering questions about these and other topics of interest. I thank all who shared their input on topics. Questions can be submitted at any time to news@thunderbaypolice.ca.
I also extend an invitation to the community to witness the 31st annual Police & Peace Officers Memorial. This event honours the brave police and peace officers who gave their lives in service of their communities. They were Officers, and also mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters and friends to many. Those who lost a loved one forever live with the pain, and through this memorial, we offer them our condolences. Please join us on September 29, 2024 at 2:00 pm at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Ridgeway Street
Read previous messages:
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024