Ontario Government Invests $2.9 Million Over Three Years For Peterborough Police Service
/Peterborough Police Service is receiving $2,947,380 over three years from the Ontario Government to provide for new resources to strengthen services to Peterborough and Lakefield announced Monday.
Inspector John Lyons (left) with MPP Dave Smith (right) following the $2.9 million investment into Peterborough Police Service. The maximum funding for any initiative under the Provincial Priorities Funding Stream is $1.5 million over three years. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
This funding is part of Ontario’s $267 million investment in the Community Safety and Policing (CSP) Grant Program for initiatives that help combat crime locally.
The Peterborough Police Service is one of 90 police service boards receiving funding through the CSP Grant Program for 147 public safety initiatives focusing on local and provincial priorities such as gun and gang violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, mental health and addictions and hate-motivated crime. Several projects are in collaboration with community partners.
“The single highest priority of government is to keep communities safe. The Peterborough Police Service has received record investments over the last few years to fight crime and support victims,” said MPP Dave Smith. “This funding will bring significant support to victims of crime; helping them heal and bring criminals to justice.”
The Peterborough Police Service will use funds to:
Our Special Victims Unit (which will focus on investigating crimes related to human trafficking, child exploitation/sexual abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence as well as sexual violence and harassment)
Addition of a Major Crime Investigator to assist with the above noted investigations and proactive projects
Provide for a Situation Table Coordinator to assist the Community Development and Engagement Coordinator
Assist with the services’ Data Analysts
Advanced training courses for officers
“The funding allows the Service to work on more proactive projects, provides advanced training courses, allows officers in the major crime unit to work on investigating overdose deaths which may lead to more positive outcomes for our community and more connections to our Victims Services Unit for victims of crime,” said Inspector John Lyons. “The funding also aligns with the goal of the Community Safety Well Being Plan and helps the Situation Table in our community.”
The CSP Grant Program helps police services address priority issues identified in their communities such as expanding mental health supports, preventing crime in schools and combatting cyber-crime. It also addresses provincewide priorities such as:
Gun and gang violence
Sexual violence and harassment
Human trafficking
Mental health and addictions
Hate-motivated crime.
