Latest news with #UCCMAnishnaabePolice
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Police activate licence plate scanners for crime detection on Highway 6
Stationary automated licence plate readers began operating at the intersection of Highway 6 and Beedahban Miikun in Whitefish River First Nation on May 30, 2025. (UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service/Facebook) Stationary automated licence plate readers (ALPR) are now operational at the intersection of Highway 6 and Beedahban Miikun in Whitefish River First Nation. The system scans licence plates entering and leaving the Manitoulin District, capturing infrared and colour images at a rate of up to two plates per second. Designated officers with the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Anishnaabe Police Service can flag plates linked to serious investigations, including missing persons cases, homicides, Amber Alerts, human trafficking, drug trafficking and organized crime. 'It is important to clarify that this system is not to be primarily used to detect speeding violations or other offences under the Highway Traffic Act,' police said in a news release. Unflagged plates are automatically purged after seven days to comply with privacy laws. The initiative, which began May 30, was developed in consultation with Ontario's privacy commissioner and aims to enhance public safety and assist law enforcement agencies nationwide. Signage has been installed to notify the public of the ALPR's presence. In the release, police urged community members to report crimes anonymously through Crime Stoppers or directly to local police at 705-377-7135, saying the most effective way to protect the region is to share information. UCCM Anishnaabe Police crest The United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Anishnaabe Police crest on the sleeve of Chief of Police James Killeen during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, June 12, 2023. (File photo/Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) (Sean Kilpatrick) Authorities said the damage caused by drug trafficking is 'real and lasting.' 'Drug trafficking brings with it serious consequences, including home invasions, violent assaults, homicides, addiction, homelessness and overdose deaths,' police said. 'Together, we can make a difference,' added Police Chief James Killeen.
CBC
25-03-2025
- CBC
UCCM Anishnaabe Police seeking permanent funding for intimate partner violence program
Social Sharing The UCCM Anishnaabe Police is seeking permanent funding to continue its "Lighting the Fire Within" program, which aims to address intimate partner violence in the six First Nations on Manitoulin Island and surrounding area it covers. "[The] initiative was designed to equip law enforcement with the tools and knowledge needed to better serve communities by integrating cultural teachings, trauma-informed practices, and strategic partnerships that enhance safety," said Taylor Sayers, director of corporate services for the Indigenous police force. Police Chief James Killeen said the five-year initiative, launched in 2018, focused on establishing early intervention protocols to address domestic situations. Using statistics on domestic violence calls, Killeen explained that police concentrated on addressing non-criminal matters to develop potential solutions before conflicts escalate into criminal incidents. Community approach Killeen said the program offers people with substance abuse and anger issues counselling to "deal with those issues before they turn into something bigger." "They would be going and taking anger management. They would take culturally based and trauma-informed training to help them with the issues that they're experiencing within their relationship that are probably part of the root cause of why they're getting into these arguments and why it's escalating," he said. Killeen said this strategy fits the general approach of First Nation policing which is centred around community whereas municipal, provincial and federal policing is "very reactive." "If you're doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, it's not going to happen without some significant changes," he said, adding officers have to gain the trust of the communities they're working in. The goal of the project is to reduce domestic violence rates through training, education, and direct support programs to create lasting change in policing. "There have been some absolutely tragic and horrific issues and incidents that have happened in the Sudbury area as well as in Ontario, just in the last couple of years that have ended in complete tragedy, and we're trying to prevent those from happening within our community," Killeen said. After several high-profile incidents, including a murder-suicide in Sault Ste. Marie in 2023 that killed three children and two adults, numerous communities across Ontario, including Sudbury, declared intimate partner violence an epidemic. Despite calls from the Ontario NDP and support from several municipalities, the province has yet to officially declare domestic violence an epidemic. 'We want to keep a good thing going' Killeen will be in Toronto Friday, where the culmination of the project is being marked by a conference. The event brings together other First Nation police services, as well as municipal and provincial police, to share the outcomes of the initiative. He hopes that the program will continue through a permanent funding agreement with the federal and provincial governments. "We want to keep a good thing going, and we know that this has had positive impacts, not just within our community, but within our own police service, and we want to see that success continue," Killeen said. .
