Latest news with #RonGignac
CTV News
14-05-2025
- CTV News
Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service introduces 24/7 online crime reporting system
The Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service (WTPS) has launched its new online reporting system, allowing residents to submit non-emergency incidents through a digital portal as part of a broader effort to enhance community safety and police responsiveness. Wiki police Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service say too many offenders in the community are failing to comply with release conditions and often end up reoffending. (Supplied/Wikwemikong Tribal Police) The platform, accessible 24/7 via the WTPS website, enables users to report suspicious activity or minor crimes without needing to call or visit the police station. Features include a user-friendly interface, dedicated staff to review submissions, and follow-up mechanisms to ensure cases are addressed. 'We call it 'Connect, Report and Protect,'' said the police service's Chief, Ron Gignac, in an interview with CTV News last week. 'Sometimes people feel more comfortable reporting things online, so we wanted to make sure that we weren't missing that data from online reporting or that information that we could receive to help us further our investigations.' The initiative aims to bridge gaps in community engagement, particularly among younger generations. 'I think it's going to capture the data we might be missing in certain cases because we all know that the younger generations tend to do things more online,' Gignac added. 'So I think we'll be able to build that capacity into the final phase of what we're trying to accomplish here, which is information sharing.' Const. Raven Manitowabi has been visiting local businesses and schools to promote the system, emphasizing its role in developing collaboration. Const. Raven Manitowabi - Article Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service Const. Raven Manitowabi Manitowabi has been visiting local businesses and schools to promote the the police service's new 24/7 online reporting system, emphasizing its role in developing collaboration in the community. (Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service/Facebook) 'If you see something, say something,' WTPS reiterated in a social media post. 'Together we can make our community safe and vibrant.' While the online tool is designed for non-emergencies, WTPS reminded residents that Crime Stoppers remains an option for confidential tips. The system is part of the force's commitment to transparency and proactive policing, ensuring residents have multiple ways to engage with law enforcement. The online reporting portal can be accessed at by clicking 'Online Reporting' at the top of the page. WPTS - Non-Emergency Online Reporting Tool - wings Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service has launched its new online reporting system, allowing residents to submit non-emergency incidents through a digital portal. The platform, accessible 24/7 via the WTPS website, enables users to report suspicious activity or minor crimes without needing to call or visit the police station. It features include a user-friendly interface, dedicated staff to review submissions, and follow-up mechanisms to ensure cases are addressed. (Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service/Facebook) With files from journalist Chelsea Papineau
CTV News
09-05-2025
- CTV News
New drug strategy in Manitoulin Island community sees big results
A new drug strategy for a community on Manitoulin Island is starting to see positive results, with big seizures of fentanyl and cocaine as well as the arrest of numerous suspected dealers. $35,000 cocaine and fentanyl seized in Wiikwemkoong First Nation $35,000 cocaine and fentanyl seized at a weapons call in Wiikwemkoong First Nation where a Brampton man was arrested. February 28, 2025 (Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service) Because drug activity has been a big concern, Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service launched its comprehensive community drug strategy last December. 'We did the gap analysis, conducted studies, community consultation on what was really required to mitigate a lot of things that were happening on the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and in Manitoulin Island,' Ron Gignac, police chief in Wiikwemkoong First Nation, said in a video interview earlier this week. Gignac said his agency is working in partnership with nearby police services on the community drug strategy efforts. This includes Ontario Provincial Police, United Chiefs and Council of Manitoulin Anishnaabe Police Service (UCCM) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). 'We have a really good, combined forces collaborative effort on evidence-based policing and intelligence-led policing,' he said. 'Crime Stoppers has been pivotal in what we are trying to do with our drug strategy. Our community … collaboration, that all has a lot to do with our success.' Wiki bust Police in Wiikwemkoong seized cocaine worth about $15,000 and seized 3D guns following a raid of a residence Thursday morning in the community. (Wikwemikong Tribal Police photo) Ways of transporting drugs identified Most of the focus is on motor vehicle traffic, since that's how most of the drugs come into the community and on the island. The upcoming addition of automated license plate readers will help identify criminal activities even faster. But it's not just motor vehicle traffic -- police are also intercepting drugs with snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and boats. Wiki bust A search warrant executed on Daawema Road in Wiikwemkoong led to the seizure of a large cache of cocaine, weapons and the arrest of 11 people, police said on Tuesday. (Wikwemikong Tribal Police photo) 'We have evidence of drug drop-off locations with … marine activities, with ATVs coming off of the territory and going to pick up drugs in a pre-stashed location,' Gignac said. 'So we're aware of these things … we have intelligence.' Using combined forces with OPP and RCMP, marine patrols have been stepped up to improve border integrity and to provide a deterrent. 'We know that it's a short distance from Point Grandin, Killarney, Birch Island,' he said. Community effort With the new strategy in place, Wikwemikong police have seized $346,000 in illicit drugs in just a few months. $20K in cocaine seized by Wikwemikoong Tribal Police Service $20K in cocaine seized April 16, 2025. (Wikwemikoong Tribal Police Service) And the police chief said more people are sharing and reporting information. 'The whole theme comes back to 'see something, say something,'' Gignac said. 'And I believe that people are comfortable in seeing the result of what's been happening with the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service and the strategies that we have initiated.' New, online crime reporting To make non-emergency reporting easier and more accessible, he said the agency is launching its first online reporting system next week. 'We call it 'Connect, Report and Protect,'' Gignac said about the online portal that will be available 24/7. 'Sometimes people feel more comfortable reporting things online, so we wanted to make sure that we weren't missing that data from online reporting or that information that we could receive to help us out furthering our investigations.' The information reported online will be reviewed by WTPS staff and assigned to an officer for follow-up. 'I think it's going to capture the data we might be missing in certain cases because we all know that the younger generations tend to do things more online,' the police chief said.'So I think we'll be able to build that capacity into the final phase of what we're trying to accomplish here, which is information sharing.'
CBC
14-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service to hire more officers, build station, under new funding agreement
Social Sharing An Indigenous police service in northeastern Ontario has signed a landmark agreement that it says will finally give it the resources to address urgent safety concerns in its community. Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service (WTPS) has signed a deal with the federal ministry of public safety and the solicitor general of Ontario that will recognize it as an essential service and provide long-term funding. The agreement will provide WTPS with $112 million dollars over 10 years. "This agreement is a paradigm shift for public safety in our community." said WTPS Chief, Ron Gignac, in a news release. He said it allows police to plan strategically for the long-term and invest in resources to improve public safety. He also says the funding will help increase uniform and civilian personnel from 40 to 72 positions. WTPS is also looking at expanding and upgrading existing facilities while planning takes place for a new station. Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory is located on the northeastern end of Manitoulin Island "Our government partners have been instrumental in finalizing this agreement," said Joseph Wabejijig, board president. "We thank them for their long-term investment and look forward to further supporting our community with enhanced capabilities." Last December, the Nishnawbe Aski Nation signed a $514 million funding agreement between the province and the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Board to provide stable and enhanced funding for the communities it serves. NAPS provides policing for 34 First Nations across northern Ontario, 25 of which are remote. Its coverage area ranges from the Manitoba border and eastward up the James Bay coast over to the Quebec border. Historically, Indigenous police have been given short-term contracts under the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program that don't allow for them to invest in specialized units such as canine or drug units or allow them to own their own facilities. That matter is currently being argued by the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario and Public Safety Canada before the Human Rights Tribunal.
