Latest news with #communitytrust
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Don Davis responds to Snow Hill police disbandment
SNOW HILL, N.C. (WNCT) — Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) released the following statement after the decision by Snow Hill commissioners to disband the Snow Hill Police Department: 'Nearly 15 years ago, the Snow Hill Police Department was formed to improve public safety, protect residents, and allow everyone to feel more secure in their homes, businesses, and neighborhoods. Dedicated police officers on patrol enforce the law, foster trust within the community, and promote a sense of pride. I strongly urge town officials to reverse course, reconsider their decision, and keep the Snow Hill Police Department intact.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
27-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Justice Department survey shows Newfoundlanders and Labradorians feeling less safe
The results of a recent poll released by Newfoundland and Labrador's Justice Department suggests the majority of respondents felt more unsafe now than they did five years ago. The survey of 4,485 people was conducted by the department's police transformation working group, which was formed in 2023 to review policing services in the province. Respondents from 240 towns across the province were split on whether they felt a complaint lodged against a police officer would be treated fairly. Forty-four per cent said they were not confident such a complaint would get fair consideration, while 44 per cent said they were somewhat or very confident it would. "Participants felt that police need to build greater trust with communities," says the report released Monday. "Increased police presence and proactive community policing were suggested as key strategies." Policing has faced considerable scrutiny in Newfoundland and Labrador in recent years, following the sexual assault conviction of former Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer Carl Douglas Snelgrove. He was convicted in 2021 of raping a woman in her apartment after giving her a ride home in his police car. First Voice, a St. John's-based Indigenous collective, has called for a civilian-led police oversight board and it produced an extensive report in 2022 detailing how the province could address systemic policing problems, including racism. The government passed legislation in March to establish a new process to deal with alleged police misconduct. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary shares policing duties in Newfoundland and Labrador with the RCMP. The new report says that of those respondents who disclosed where they lived, about 58 per cent were within the jurisdiction of the constabulary. The constabulary's largest jurisdiction is the northeast region of the Avalon Peninsula, which includes St. John's. The police force also has a detachment in Corner Brook in western Newfoundland, as well Labrador City and Churchill Falls in Labrador. Seventy-three per cent of respondents said they felt less safe now than five years ago, with 67 per cent indicating drug trafficking was a common crime in their community. More than half — 51 per cent — said the police were not effective in maintaining the safety of their communities. The majority of Indigenous respondents said they were not confident that police officers would respond to and investigate reports of crime. The survey also found that those who identified as LGBTQ+ were less likely to agree that police treated their community respectfully. The majority of responses from Indigenous people, women and people from households with annual incomes less than $50,000 said they would not know how to report a complaint against a police officer. "The department has already prioritized some of the suggestions received, such as additional support for front line police officers," Justice Minister John Haggie said in a statement released Monday. The police transformation working group will use the survey information "to improve our police services and enhance public safety in Newfoundland and Labrador," he said.
CBC
27-05-2025
- CBC
Many Islanders unsatisfied with how police deal with some crimes, report suggests
Social Sharing The results of public survey about policing on P.E.I. have been released, and they highlight Islanders' concerns over public drug use and ways police forces can adapt to community needs. Some of the main takeaways from the report, Community Perceptions of P.E.I. Police Services, are that 62 per cent of those surveyed are mostly trusting of the police, while 61 per cent view them as professional. Some concerns were also evident, with 45 per cent saying they were dissatisfied with how police handle impaired and dangerous driving. About 41 per cent said they weren't satisfied with how authorities deal with drug trafficking, while theft and property crimes was next on the list, with 37 per cent of Islanders unsatisfied with how those offences are treated. WATCH | Survey says Islanders trust the police in P.E.I., but think crime is on the rise: Survey says Islanders trust the police in P.E.I., but think crime is on the rise 3 hours ago Duration 1:56 The province wanted to know Islanders' thoughts on policing, and the results of a survey show two-thirds trust police. But, as CBC's Stacey Janzer found out, many believe crime has gotten worse over the past year. P.E.I.'s Department of Justice and Public Safety posted the survey online for four weeks last summer. Fewer than 1,000 people responded. P.E.I. RCMP Insp. Shaun Coady told CBC News that the province's traffic services unit has been working to curb impaired and dangerous driving cases. "Their numbers have climbed significantly over the last few years with more than 21,000 interactions with motorists last year," he said. "We report on our impaired driving stats and they have been continuing to be quite high." A majority of Islanders surveyed, 87 per cent, said they were concerned about crime on P.E.I., and 72 per cent said they felt crime has gotten worse in the past year. Community engagement Other concerns from the survey centred on community engagement. Twenty-nine per cent said they don't feel as if police engage enough with youth, while about a quarter said people from diverse communities and seniors are underserved. Coady said the RCMP has been reaching out to those communities through a number of efforts. "We have a dedicated RCMP member working in Montague Regional High School engaging with the youth in that community," he said. "We have seen significant results from that engagement, so obviously we strive to engage with our population, and whether it's seniors or youth, we drive those activities at the local detachment level." WATCH | 'Grandparent scams' are rampant. Do you know how to protect your family?: 'Grandparent scams' are rampant. Do you know how to protect your family? 4 months ago Duration 2:00 As senior-targeted scams become increasingly harder to catch, the RCMP gives tips on how to keep your loved ones out of harm's way. Coady said the agency has recently been hosting awareness campaigns targeted at seniors to help spread awareness of scams. "We've done a number of outreach opportunities, fraud talks for example, cyber safety, communications, we've done social media activities to try to raise awareness about some of those types of incidents," he said. "Grandparent schemes, those sorts of things, we've really tried to cater to those and ensure that we're proactively addressing those needs." Brody Connolly, director of P.E.I. Public Safety, said this survey will help the province develop strategies for policing. "The big thing about it is it just puts us in a position to identify gaps," he said. "I think we have a good pulse on where we are policing-wise and [with] crime prevention, but without that... extra public input I think we need that to really do a fulsome job as far as identifying what the issues are."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Washington Township police reach new milestone in accountability
The Washington Township Police Department has achieved a significant milestone. According to a community announcement, the department received its official Certification of Accreditation from the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission on April 24. This accomplishment highlights the department's commitment to enhancing community trust and professionalism. The accreditation process began in 2019 under the leadership of Retired Chief Mike McGovern. Chief McGovern's vision laid the groundwork for this achievement. Chief Jason Wolfgang continued the effort, working closely with all department members to meet the rigorous standards set by the commission. Accreditation is a multi-year process designed by law enforcement professionals to improve agency performance. It provides a framework for departments to evaluate their operations and ensure they meet established standards. These standards help guarantee that police departments deliver high-quality service to their communities. The Washington Township Police Department's accreditation signifies a promise to the community for continued service with integrity and transparency. Residents can now have increased confidence in their police force, knowing it operates under strict guidelines aimed at accountability and effectiveness. This achievement is a proud moment for the entire community, reflecting a shared commitment to safety and excellence in law enforcement. For more information about the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, go to For details on the Washington Township Police Department, go to This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. The Public Opinion, The Record Herald, Echo-Pilot are growing their local news This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: Washington Township Police Department receives accreditation
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Town hall on immigration, community trust held in La Vergne
LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WKRN) — On Wednesday night, the La Vergne Police Department held a town hall to address immigration policy and build trust between members of the community and members of law enforcement. La Vergne Police Chief Christopher Moews began the meeting with a message to La Vergne residents that he wants to provide transparency between the department and the community. Moews added that at the moment, he senses fear and concern among La Vergne residents about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity across the mid-state. Moews affirmed that the LVPD's primary focus is public safety, adding that the department has not colluded with any ICE agents on any operations within the city. However, Moews added that both he and other La Vergne officers are bound to follow the law, so they would be required to report anyone without documentation. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More Ultimately, police want residents to be able to report crimes without fear of detention or deportation, which Moews claimed has affected first responders' ability to help in some emergency situations. 'There was an incident in La Vergne involving a small child and we believe — we're not positive — but it's possible that the caretaker didn't call the police for the medical emergency for the child,' Moews says. '…Nobody wants to have a six-month-old pass away just because somebody may have — I'm not saying they did, but may have — feared calling the police because of their immigration status.' News 2 asked Moews for specific details about the case involving the small child and Moews deferred to the District Attorney's Office. News 2 has reached out to both city and county officials for more information. La Vergne Mayor Jason Cole also did not have further details about the case, deferring to the LVPD. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
