‘Significant increases’: traffic, violent crime to be priorities for Collingwood OPP

Traffic, violent crime and the need to connect with people who may be marginalized based on income, race and mental health.

As part of the OPP’s overall organizational plan for the next three years, the Collingwood detachment is looking at those issues as its priorities.

Detachment commander Insp. Mary Shannon reviewed those possible priorities with the town’s police services board during a special meeting, Oct. 20.

Shannon said violent crime, such as assaults and sexual assaults, is on an upward trend, as are certain property crimes such as fraud.

“We’re seeing significant increases in these serious offences,” she told the board.

That included one reported to the local detachment on the weekend of a so-called ‘romance scam’ that saw the victim fleeced of more than $1 million.

Traffic has also increased, she said, and has been reflected in an increase of the number of Highway Traffic Act charges. Between 2017 and 2019, the number of Highway Traffic Act charges laid by detachment officers has increased by 65 per cent.

Detachment officers have also seen the impact of drugs on the community, notably in the number of deaths related to opioids.

From 2018 to 2020, officers have investigated 36 overdose incidents related to opioid use, and seven deaths.

At the same time, Shannon said, the detachment has seen the success of the mental-health response unit the Collingwood detachment shares with the Huronia West detachment, and in partnership with the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.

“There has been a proven need in our community for that enhanced presence,” she said.

However, in response to a question tied to the recent shooting death by OPP officers in Collingwood, she said that unit — which includes a mental health counsellor — can’t always be brought in during an immediate crisis.

The province’s Special Investigations Unit is currently investigating the Sept. 9 incident. Without addressing the specific incident, Shannon said when a weapon is involved, “we’re limited in our ability to involve a civilian resource to assist in de-escalation.”

The board also highlighted the need for training and support for diversity and hate crimes, and making it a local priority of protecting the human rights of all citizens, and “promotion of diversity and inclusion awareness.”

There will be a brief public input period on the OPP’s priorities and the public will be able to provide comments through the town’s online engagement site, .

The board will continue the discussion on policing priorities at its next meeting on Nov. 9.