Brockville Police Service
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Brockville Police Service | |
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| Partners for a safe & healthy community | |
| Established: | 1832 |
| Headquarters: | Brockville, ON |
| Chief of Police: | John Manoll |
| Sworn officers: | 63 |
| Civilian employees: | 22 |
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The Brockville Police Service provides policing services for Brockville, the community of the Thousand Islands region on the St. Lawrence River in Eastern Ontario, Canada. Known as the "City of the 1000 Islands", Brockville (population 22,233) is located directly opposite Morristown, New York on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, about half-way between Cornwall in the east and Kingston in the west and a little over an hour from the nation's capital, Ottawa.
Currently, the Brockville Police Service consists of 63 members, including 5 female officers and 22 civilian support members providing 24/7 emergency response. The Chief of Police is the highest ranking officer of the Brockville Service. The position currently belongs to John Manoll, who was appointed in 2007.
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History
The service was formed in 1832, when the hamlet was created as a police village under a Board of Police. In that year, James Kennedy was appointed High Bailiff, and William Smith was the first constable to be hired.
It is said that one of Smith's first court cases involved several young gentlemen who were accused of driving their horses at a fast pace along the main street. The case was dismissed, and so was Smith. In the next forty years, there were few changes in the composition of the police service except those caused by death. The position of High Constable or Bailiff was held by several men, among who were John McKenna, Michael Hunter and Thomas Mowat. In 1876, town council secured the services of Henry Mitchell of St. Catharines as the first Chief of Police. He directed the organization of the Force, which consisted of a sergeant and five constables.
Chief Mitchell resigned in 1890 and was followed by Charles Rose, a native of Dundas, who was succeeded in 1899 by Chief Samuel Adams. In 1905, William Burke was appointed Chief of Police and held this post until 1926.
In 1927, John Brown was appointed Chief, and remained in that position until 1938 when he resigned and was replaced by Wilmot F. Young, who held the post until his retirement in 1968. He was succeeded by N.L. Sterritt, who retired in June, 1984. On his retirement, the Police Commission appointed W.M.G. Curtis as Chief of Police. Upon the retirement of Chief Curtis in 1990, R.J. McFadden became the next Chief of Police until his retirement in 1995. Chief Barry V. King was appointed Chief of Police October 10, 1995, returning to Brockville where he had previously served as a young OPP officer from 1964 - 1969.
The Police Service has expanded steadily with the growth of Brockville, which obtained status as a city in 1962, and to meet increased demands for service. In 1929, there was a Chief, a Sergeant and three Constables. In 1938, there was a Chief, a Sergeant and five Constables. In 1945, there was a Chief, three Sergeants, six Constables and a Clerk. In 1947, with an 8-hour day, 48-hour work week, the Brockville Police, swelled to fifteen.
Mission statement
The Brockville Police Service, while responding to the needs of our multi-racial and multi-cultural society, will maintain a standard of excellence in professional conduct and community service.
Vision
The Brockville Police Services' vision of the future is one of change to being more proactive in the delivery of community policing: strengthening the role of enforcement of federal, provincial and municipal laws, and the provision of quality management of the Police Service.
Goal
Improved community safety and crime reduction of targeted crimes through education & enforcement.
The Special Investigations Unit
The actions of the Brockville Police Service are examined by the Special Investigations Unit, a civilian agency responsible for investigating circumstances involving police and civilians that have resulted in a death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault. The SIU is dedicated to maintaining one law, ensuring equal justice before the law among both the police and the public. They assure that the criminal law is applied appropriately to police conduct, as determined through independent investigations, increasing public confidence in the police services. Complaints involving police conduct that do not result in a serious injury or death must be referred to the appropriate police service or to another oversight agency, such as the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services.
