Latest news with #SaultSte.MariePoliceService
Cision Canada
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Sault Ste. Marie Police Service recognized with national award for imposing a transparency tax on public records
TORONTO, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has been selected as this year's recipient of the Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy, in the law enforcement category, for its sweeping new plan to increase service fees to access documents and records. "This is a transparency tax, plain and simple," said Brent Jolly, president of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ). "This is a weaponization of fees to prevent people from gaining access to records. Public information should not be turned into a revenue stream by a publicly-funded body." According to the Sault Star, the fee increase will apply to all sorts of documents, ranging from court subpoenas to officers' notes. The police board will also introduce fees for several new services, including police body-worn camera and in-car camera footage, and will charge for redactions to remove sensitive information. Requests for information under the Municipal Freedom of Information law will incur a $15 fee for every 15 minutes of staff time. The police board said the fee increase, the first since 2011, is needed to offset increased labour costs. "The math just doesn't add up," Jolly said. "The public is paying a dollar a minute for staff time to access information, but the staff accessing those records are paid less than a dollar per minute." The Code of Silence Awards are presented annually by the CAJ, the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University (CFE), and the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE). The awards call public attention to government or publicly-funded agencies that work hard to hide information to which the public has a right to under access to information legislation. Previous winners in the law enforcement category include: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Toronto Police Service. The law enforcement award completes this year's Code of Silence Awards program. In addition to the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, other 'winners' in this year's program included Canada's federal government for its ongoing fight with Indigenous groups seeking access to records surrounding residential schools; Doug Ford's Ontario government; and Vancouver Coastal Health.
Hamilton Spectator
12-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Sault Ste. Marie Police Service celebrates Division 2 opening
Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has officially launched its new Division 2 location at 180 Brock St., with an outdoor barbeque held in partnership with Victim Services. Monday afternoon's launch also marked the beginning of Police Week and Victims and Survivors of Crime Week. While officers have been operating out of the site since April 28, the building is not yet open to the public as an intercom system for security purposes still needs to be installed. Public access is expected in the coming weeks, with a transition period as police and community members adjust to the new service model. The collision reporting centre, along with Crime Stoppers and Victim Services, will also relocate to the new downtown site. Division 2 is staffed by four constables and a sergeant, with a total of 17 staff working from the new location. This includes members from Traffic Services, the Canine Unit, the Central Support Bureau, a Community Safety Officer, and the High School Liaison Officer. It has taken a year and a half to bring the project to life. Approximately $850,000 was allocated for renovations and the move, although a final cost has not yet been released. The 84,000-square-foot facility spans two floors and includes interview rooms, an elevator, offices, change rooms, storage space, and a lunchroom. Officers working in the downtown area now have a convenient location to complete paperwork without needing to return to headquarters on Second Line East. 'It's been a long time coming and we're proud to see it finally taking shape down here,' said interim Chief Brent Duguay. Duguay reported that within Division 2's first month of operations, officers have made 15 arrests, issued nine provincial offences, and handed out two bylaw tickets. He also noted strong early engagement with local businesses. 'The biggest engagement so far has been with store owners to make sure they know who to call if there's a problem,' he told the crowd of about 20 gathered outside the new building. Insp. Derek Dewar said the move was in response to feedback from the public and city council, who voiced a desire for a stronger police presence downtown. 'So far the impact has been overwhelmingly positive,' said Dewar. 'It lessens the burden of the existing building,' he added, referring to the main station, which he said is 'bursting at the seams.' Dewar said downtown officers will conduct beat and bicycle patrols, with a proactive approach aimed at improving response times and community safety in the core. Jasmine Savoie, executive director of Victim Services, emphasized that individuals seeking their support do not have to report each incident to police. 'That's a huge barrier to some of our friends who may have run-ins,' said Savoie. She noted that a large part of Victim Services's mission involves raising awareness for victims and survivors of crimes such as trafficking, intimate partner violence (IPV), and homicide. She hopes the new location, which the agency has been operating from for a week, will make it easier for people to access support. 'We think that having more of a central location is better for the downtown core,' said Savoie. 'We can meet a lot more people in their own environment.'
