Halton Regional Police Service. Annual Report Halton: One of Canada s Safest Communities

Transcription

1 Halton Regional Police Service Annual Report Halton: One of Canada s Safest Communities A civilian Police Service member meets 10-year-old Katie during the Burlington leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, an annual event which raises funds and awareness for Special Olympics. Is policing in your future? We are now hiring! Whether you are interested in becoming a police officer, or just want some more information on this career choice, visit our website at An officer stops a driver for speeding on a rural road. Traffic remains a leading concern of Halton residents. A family moment from Police Day. Police Day is held annually at Police Headquarters on Bronte Road north of the QEW in Oakville. Police Day, which caps off national Police Week, is an opportunity for the public to visit our Headquarters and learn about the different aspects of our Service. This year s Police Day is Saturday, May 12. For more information, see our Police Day information on the back page of this Annual Report. A diversity team officer greets members of the public at the launch of the ESINC program (Emergency Services Instruction for New Canadians). More information about this program is on page 6. Progress Through Participation Bring the whole family for a day of fun and exploration. Meet members of your local Police Service and learn about the many facets of policing in Halton Region. Halton Regional Police Service

2 Halton Regional Police Service Annual Report Page 2 Message from the Police Services Board The Halton Regional Police Services Board is pleased to provide the citizens of Halton Region with the Police Service s Annual Report. Members of the Police Services Board was a year of change. The retirement of Chief Ean Algar after 38 years of dedicated service with the Halton Regional Police Service was the first change. The Board undertook a national search for his successor and was proud to promote an internal candidate, Deputy Chief Gary Crowell, to Chief effective as of June 3. The promotion of Gary Crowell brought about another change. The Board again undertook an internal/external search for the Deputy s replacement. It was another proud moment for the Board when they promoted another internal candidate, Andrew Fletcher, to the position of Deputy Chief, Operations. These internal promotions are indicative of the quality and depth of talented people within the Halton Regional Police Service. During this time of change at the Halton Regional Police Service, we are confident the residents of Halton continued to receive excellent police services. As you will read throughout this Annual Report, Halton retained its rating as one of the safest communities in Canada with a population in excess of 100,000. The Police Services Board congratulates Chief Crowell, the senior management and the members of the Police Service for their commitment to the protection of our citizens. Please take the time to review this Report in detail to gain a better appreciation of the initiatives undertaken by the Service on a day-to-day basis. Ken Musgrave Rick Burgess Keith Bird Jeanne Hay, Member (Chairman -) Vice-Chairman Member (term expired June ) Joan Lougheed Bob Maich Clark Somerville Andrew Tyrrell Member Member Member (Member, term commenced July ) The Halton Regional Police Services Board is a seven-member civilian Board that governs the Halton Regional Police. Under the Police Services Act, the Board is responsible for providing adequate and effective police services to the citizens of Halton Region. Message from the Chief Gary W. Crowell Chief of Police Police Headquarters Contact Information 1151 Bronte Road Oakville, ON L6J 5C7 Switchboard: (905) Switchboard: (905) Automated Attendant: (905) Burlington 3800 Southampton Blvd. L7M 3Y2 Oakville 1229 White Oaks Blvd. L6H 2N6 Local Numbers Acton: (519) Burlington: (905) Georgetown: (905) Milton: (905) Police Station Locations Halton Hills (Georgetown) 217 Guelph Street L7G 4A8 Halton Hills (Acton) 38 Mill Street East L7J 1H1 Milton 490 Childs Drive L9T 5G2 On Monday June 19,, I was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the Halton Regional Police Service. I am privileged to command an excellent Police Service with members who are committed to ensuring that the quality of life we enjoy in this Region is a priority. A review of our statistics shows an 8% increase in calls for service, however, our crime rate decreased by 3.7%. Property crimes have once again increased, but the violent crime rate decreased slightly. Overall, this is a good news story and we continue to be one of the safest communities in Canada. Halton is a fast growing and dynamic area that has experienced an unprecedented population increase in the past number of years. While we welcome this growth, we also recognize this has presented us with a number of challenges. Maintaining authorized staffing levels for both uniform and civilian positions to meet our increasing demographics continues to be our number one internal concern. Like most organizations and professions, we are also experiencing a retirement wave. We are aggressively recruiting those who are interested in a career in policing and, naturally, we are very interested in attracting Halton residents. If you know anyone who is interested in becoming a police officer with our Service, please have them contact our Recruiting Bureau. Halton has also experienced an increase in the diversity of our population. I am proud that we have worked very closely with our community and business partners and various faith and cultural groups to ensure we meet the needs and demands of everyone who has chosen this Region as their home. This includes additional training for our officers and participation in numerous cultural events throughout the Region. In addition, we have provided information and services to those who speak different languages and come from different cultural backgrounds. Many of our pamphlets and portions of our website have been translated to languages other than English and French. With our emergency service partners, the Emergency Medical Services and the municipal Fire Departments, we have developed an information video for newcomers to our Region and, in fact, our country. Emergency Services Instruction for New Canadians (ESINC) provides education on when and how to access emergency services and also information on each of the agencies. Another by-product of the population explosion both in and around our Region is an increase in the number of vehicles using our roadways. Our number one complaint from the community is a lack of respect for the rules of the road. We have increased enforcement of the traffic laws, in particular, speeding and aggressive driving, in order to keep our streets safer drivers beware! We would not be the Policing organization we are without our volunteers. We value their contributions. These groups are many and include the Auxiliary Unit, Community Consultation Committees, Communities on Phone Patrol, Halton Regional Police Chorus, Halton Regional Police Pipes and Drums, Victim Services and the Seniors Call-back group. I want to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and professionalism of both our civilian members and sworn officers. They are committed to providing a quality Policing Service to this community and I am so proud of all of them. I want to thank the Police Services Board for their support of our members and for their commitment to the Mission Statement of the Halton Regional Police Service To provide efficient and effective community-based policing.

3 Overview of policing achievements in Halton Region Growhouse raids: In June, Halton Regional Police seized nearly $500,000 in marihuana plants from a Georgetown home. Inside they found a sophisticated marihuana lab in the basement and 470 marihuana plants, along with $6,000 worth of hydroponics equipment. The owners had set up a hydro-electric bypass to divert electricity to the lab. Two Brampton residents were charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, production of a controlled substance and theft of electricity. Halton Hills Hydro assisted police in dismantling the lab. That same month, police seized 1.2 kilograms of marihuana, 204 tablets of ecstasy, crack cocaine and cocaine from a Milton apartment following an investigation involving drug deals with an undercover officer. The street value of the drugs was estimated at more than $22,000. Two men were arrested and charged. In July, the Service began an investigation into a suspected marihuana grow operation located in a residence in the Town of Milton. A search warrant was executed at the residence by the Drug and Morality Bureau. Marihuana plants with a street value of $250,000 were seized and an Oakville man was arrested and charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and production of a drug. Child pornography seized: Police seized computer equipment containing images of child pornography from two separate homes, in unrelated cases. On November 17, a search warrant was executed at a home in Acton following a joint investigation with Toronto Police. Two days later, another search warrant was executed at a residence in Burlington. Two men were arrested and charged. These arrests demonstrate that cooperation among Police Services is helping to thwart online distribution of child pornography. Break-in spree stopped: Detectives arrested three men in connection with a two-month crime spree in Milton and Burlington that started in September. Several vehicles were stolen and found abandoned, some with extensive damage. Over 70 units were broken into in a Milton storage unit, and three golf carts were stolen from a golf course in Burlington, where extensive damage was done to the golf course and greens. Break-ins took place at a number of other businesses and golf courses, as well as the Hilton Falls Conservation Area. Police set up a task force to investigate the incidents and put a stop to the crime spree with the arrest of four men. Charges were laid in relation to 12 break and enters. Chief s Forum: Halton Regional Police Chief Gary Crowell meets on a quarterly basis with aboriginal, religious and cultural leaders in the community. The Chief begins the meeting by providing updates from the Police Service. Community leaders each then have an opportunity to discuss issues and concerns with the Chief and other senior officers. The Chief s Forum has served to foster a sense of community and partnership amongst all faiths and cultures with the Police Service. Chief Crowell meets with community leaders at a Chief s Forum. Rural traffic concerns addressed: Motorcycle violations are one of the main concerns identified by rural residents of North Halton. North Halton was identified on a motorcycle enthusiasts web site as an ideal location to test the performance of various motorcycles. Working with the community, police identified the preferred routes and targeted them for high enforcement. In addition, police motorcycles were deployed in the area to provide for both enforcement and education of the motorcycling community. After a short period, the actions of the police were noted on the web site. The site was updated to identify that although rural Halton was a scenic area to ride, it was not an area to test the performance of the motorcycle as enforcement was likely to result. This project was well received by the community and resulted in enhanced safety on the rural roads. Tactical Rescue Unit honoured: At the August 3 Police Services Board meeting, Police Chief Gary Crowell advised that the Provincial Government was formally recognizing the Halton Regional Police Tactical Rescue Unit s weekly refresher training. This training had been developed inhouse over a period of two years. Chief Crowell said, The citizens and police officers in the Halton Region are the beneficiaries of this accreditation. Our Tactical Rescue Unit continues to train according to the high standards set by the Province, and performs their duties to maintain a significant state of operational preparedness, emergency response and safety for everyone in the community. Quality of life restored: Several projects were created to restore or enhance quality of life issues for residents who were disturbed by the rowdy behaviour of some neighbourhood youth. In one project focused in the east end of Oakville, plainclothes officers were able to reduce citizen concerns by making 33 arrests and laying 35 criminal charges. Another project in the same area by uniform officers dealt with nuisance, disorder and quality of life issues in the community. The result was a significant reduction in crime following 100 arrests, primarily for drug related offences. Marihuana, cocaine and ecstasy were seized, and numerous tickets for liquor violations were issued. During the summer months (June through August), officers in Burlington focused on locations where youth typically congregate. They patrolled 25 parks and forested areas on foot, bicycle and motorcycle as far north as Kilbride and south to Beachway Park bordering Hamilton. This initiative lead to 81 charges laid under provincial acts including the Trespass to Property Act, Liquor Licence Act and Highway Traffic Act. Ninetytwo warnings were issued, 19 criminal arrests made and 12 CDSA (Controlled Drug and Substance Act) charges were laid during the project. There was a noticeable decrease in offences as the project progressed over the summer. Recruits at their swearingin ceremony. Page 3 Children of Christmas Past: For several years, Halton Regional Police have supported Jill and Jeremy Rutka of Burlington in carrying out an innovative program to deliver personalized Christmas presents to seniors. On Christmas morning, hundreds of beautiful gifts were hand delivered by uniform officers to lonely seniors. Numerous officers and civilian employees purchased multiple gifts this year in order to accommodate the large number of seniors in long term care. The feedback from the seniors was very positive and moving. A number of seniors called to thank the Service, and to say that the gift they had received made their holiday season complete. Partnering with youth: Police work on an ongoing basis with various partner agencies to create strong and positive relationships with youth in Halton, through a variety of means, including discussions, round tables, and sporting events to raise money for charity. Officers and volunteers taught youngsters about bicycle safety at a day camp run by police in Oakville. Exemplary service: Every year, a number of members are recognized for long, dedicated and exemplary service. Serving in an exemplary manner means exhibiting good conduct and efficiency, qualities that have helped build the Halton Regional Police into a world class police service. This year, four officers were honoured for completing 35 years of service. Fourteen officers received their 30-year service bar, and ten officers received the 20-year Exemplary Service Medal. The civilian members of our Service are also recognized annually for long standing service. The contributions of the civilian members are equally as important to maintaining the safety and security of our community. This year one civilian member received the 30-year pin, four civilians received the 25-year pin, and six civilians received the 20-year pin. Successful recruitment drive: Our Service welcomed 34 new officers this year. Some officers are new to the profession; others bring with them years of policing experience. Halton Regional Police seeks motivated and responsible people to become police constables. Opportunities for diversification or specialization exist throughout a constable s career. For more information on a career with Halton Regional Police, visit or call our recruitment line at (905) ext

4 Halton Regional Police Service Annual Report Violent crime Halton annual crime totals Annual crime rates (per 100,000 population) Page 4 Category Rate Rate Homicide Attempted Murder Sexual Assault Non-Sexual Assault 1,635 1,652 1,546 1,599 1, Other Sexual Offences Abduction Robbery Violent Crime 1,987 1,959 1,844 1,928 1, Property crime Category Break and Enter 1,662 1,837 1,693 1,650 1, Auto Theft Theft Over $5, Theft Under $5,000 4,811 5,484 4,942 4,677 4, Have Stolen Goods Fraud 1, Property Crime 8,915 9,618 8,445 8,358 8, Rate Rate ,094 1, ,955 2, Other crime Category Prostitution Gaming and Betting Offensive Weapons Other Criminal Code Offences 5,239 6,317 6,294 5,467 4, Other Crime 5,411 6,481 6,457 5,648 4, Total crime ,313 18,058 16,746 15,934 15, Rate Rate ,279 1, ,321 1, Rate Rate 3,727 3, Other performance indicators Category Rate Rate Impaired Hour Suspension Property Damage Collisions 6,778 6,854 6,485 6,270 7,275 1, Injury Collisions 1,164 1,224 1,343 1,343 1, Fatal Collisions Total Calls for Service 94,896 96,957 97,617 97, ,172 7, ,467 1, ,775 23, Crime Clearance Rate 40.4% 37.7% 39.6% 37.2%

5 Progress Through Participation Page 5 Financials The Service at a glance over 3 years Population Served 415, , ,000 Uniform Strength Civilian Strength Total Staff Uniform Strength: Population 1:794 1:805 1:807 Annual Budget Cost per Capita At his swearing-in ceremony on June 19,, Chief Gary Crowell was presented with his Chief s badge by his son, Detective Constable Mark Crowell of the Waterloo Regional Police Service. Looking on is Halton Regional Police Services Board Chairman Kenneth Musgrave. Service statistics Assistance to victims Hours of Service Instances of Contact with Victims Crisis Calls Tips TIPS haltoncrimestoppers.com Arrests 30 Charges Laid 88 Cases Cleared due to Tips 42 Rewards Approved 28 Dollars Approved $4,450 Property Recovered Narcotics Seized $13,875 $3,500 $17,375 Total Value Professional Standards 2005 Letters of Appreciation Total Public Complaints (received from the general public) Chief s Complaints (internal investigations) $69,800,000 $76,502,990 $83,847,278 $ $ $191.00

6 Halton Regional Police Service Annual Report Halton Regional Police help create new diversity program Halton Regional Police Staff Sergeant Ivan L Ortye, one of the founders of ESINC. Traffic safety is everyone s business Halton Regional Police Service, in partnership with Halton EMS, the Fire Departments of Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills, as well as the Halton Multicultural Council and the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), hosted a press conference and open house in May at police headquarters to officially announce a very effective diversity initiative for the citizens of Halton. Emergency Services Information to New Canadians (E.S.I.N.C.) is a program taught to new Canadians at local Language Instructional Classes to help them understand the role of emergency personnel, and how to access services through 911 in an emergency. Traffic safety is an ongoing priority for the Halton Regional Police. Traffic is the number one complaint we receive from the public, and we are diligent in taking measures to keep our roads safe. From August 28 through September 15, we implemented a high enforcement traffic initiative called Project Safe Start. The initiative was designed to encourage the community to comply with the Province s legislated driving laws and thus ensure a safer driving and pedestrian environment for all. Safe Start Traffic Project Traffic infractions during project Safe Start Georgetown Milton Oakville Burlington Regional Total Speeding Seatbelts School Bus Stop Sign Other TOTAL Warnings Focus on protecting older adults Page 6 Halton Regional Police Service addresses seniors and vulnerable adults issues through a coordinated community response, in partnership with other agencies, groups and organizations dedicated to the wellbeing and quality of life of seniors. The Service works closely with the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. We participate in the Halton Region Elder Services Advisory Committee and chair the Halton Elder Abuse Prevention Committee. Cst. Jackie Brennan, our Elder Services coordinator, was recognized this year by the American Society for Industrial Security. She received an award in the Community Policing category for her significant contribution to the safety and wellbeing of Halton's elder community. Cst. Brennan organized Halton's first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, held in Burlington in June for a capacity crowd. Chief Gary Crowell addressed the audience at this event. In his remarks he said, Raising awareness of elder abuse is a challenge. The issue is a multi-faceted problem that requires complex and integrated responses from a very wide range of sources. The Halton Regional Police Service is committed to ensuring all our residents live free from abuse. We continue to work with seniors and other community partners providing services to seniors to build on initiatives currently being delivered. I encourage everyone to celebrate the contributions of older adults and work towards a world free of elder abuse. Halton Regional Police has a Seniors Response team, which investigates incidents of abuse and neglect of older adults. Our officers provide support from initial contact with the older adult through completion of court proceedings, where applicable. Our Seniors investigators are also active in the community, educating the community about the safety and security of older adults. New this year: improved support for people in crisis The COAST Halton (Crisis Outreach and Support Team) program serves residents of Halton who have mental health issues and are in crisis. The COAST program is a collaborative initiative of professional mental health services and Halton Regional Police, supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association of Halton. The local program received $1.4 million in funding from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. The program has three main components: Intake and triage: A crisis intervention specialist responds to calls on the 24-hour crisis line and completes an intake assessment regarding the mental health concern. Support and advice will be provided and a plan for intervention will be developed. Any person can make a referral to the COAST program. Mobile outreach: The COAST Halton mobile team, consisting of a crisis intervention specialist and a specially trained police officer, will respond to the residence, workplace or any safe location in Halton to complete a risk assessment and mental status exam. When the assessment is complete, a plan will be developed to defuse the crisis situation while the individual remains safely in the community. A follow-up plan will be developed that may involve linkage to additional community agencies. If the situation cannot be safely managed in the community, the COAST team will assist the client to hospital for further assessment and treatment. Follow-up support: Clients will be referred to community programs and agencies as needed. The COAST program provides an enhanced level of service to the residents of Halton, said Chief of Police Gary Crowell. COAST Crisis Line : hours a day every day A busy year for Police Dog Services The Police Dog Services Unit undertakes a variety of duties in support of both police operational and community needs. was another busy year for the unit, involving participation in: 378 calls for service requiring canine assistance, 811 other calls (no canine assistance) 24 arrests involving a police dog, 28 arrests without a police dog 63 additional arrest assists, 79 area searches and 198 tracks 77 building searches and 29 article searches 69 call outs and 13 public demonstrations. Cst. Brennan with Allen Klarer, Oakville Senior of the Year for. Mr. Klarer is an active participant in many seniors committees and regularly contributes to police initiatives. From left to right: Cst. Tori Lean and Baron, Cst. Rick Lostracco and Honour and Cst. Paul Csanyi and Cruz.

7 Progress Through Participation Page 7 The state of the art new Burlington facility The new police station in Burlington was designed to blend into the residential setting. Extensive public consultation was undertaken with local residents during the design phases. Significant design alterations were made to accommodate the needs of local residents. The old building downtown on Brant Street was 19,000 sq. ft.; the new one is 39,000 sq. ft. and is designed to accommodate policing needs in Burlington well into the future. There are more public parking spots, and the building is fully accessible to accommodate staff and public with disabilities. Energy efficient and energy saving devices, such as high efficiency fluorescent lights and motion sensitive light switches, have been installed throughout. Downtown residents should notice no change in the services provided to them, as uniform officers will continue to patrol the downtown core community. New station to be built in Oakville A new police facility serving the Town of Oakville is planned to begin construction in late Building on the design of the recently opened police facility in Burlington, the new Oakville building will be a two storey structure with a basement providing a gross floor area of nearly 70,000 sq. ft. Designed to accommodate policing needs in the growing Town of Oakville well into the future, the building will accommodate staff currently working at the existing facility at 1229 White Oaks Boulevard, plus some units to be redeployed from Headquarters. The site of the new building is located on the south side of Dundas Street, mid-way between Oak Park Boulevard and Sixth Line to the west of Trafalgar Road. The building design will be based on standards developed for the new police building in Burlington that was constructed in and will be reflective of the style of development in the area. Construction is anticipated to take 16 to 18 months. The new Burlington police station is located at the southwest corner of Walkers Line and Southampton Blvd. (two blocks south of Dundas Street). The $8 million, world class facility was completed on budget and on time. Citizen Police Academy: are you signed up yet? The Academy is an interactive and fun-filled program that provides citizens an opportunity to learn about modern policing and Halton Regional Police in particular. Classes are held once a week for 11 weeks at police headquarters. At the graduation ceremony, students are presented with a plaque by the Chief of Police. The next course starts in September Registration forms are available at any Halton Regional Police station, online at or by calling (905) ext Partnership between Halton Emergency Services When the Oakville Fire Department used a Provincial grant to purchase new thermal imagers, they made sure their previous equipment went to good use by giving them to the Halton Regional Police Service. Halton Regional Police has many uses for the thermal imagers. For example, they will be instrumental during night searches for missing people. In receiving the imagers from Oakville Fire Chief Richard Boyes, Halton Regional Police Chief Gary Crowell thanked the Oakville Fire Department for their continued support and the services they provide the community. Oakville Fire Chief Richard Boyes (at right) presents Halton Regional Chief of Police Gary Crowell with three thermal imagers. Our strong working relationship with the Oakville Fire Department is an example of a professional partnership that works to ensure our community is offered the best possible protection and service by their emergency service providers, said Police Chief Crowell. Architectural rendering of the new Oakville police station. Halton Regional Police play key role in joint forces investigation September 28,, was a red-letter day for law enforcement in the province. A series of pre-dawn raids were conducted across southern Ontario, following an 18-month joint forces covert police operation that involved over 500 police officers from 11 police services. The covert operation was in relation to the criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle gang members, primarily the Hells Angels. Outlaw motorcycle gangs remain a serious criminal threat in Canada. They are involved in many criminal activities, including drug trafficking, fraud and theft. From the inception of the investigation, the Halton Regional Police Service had investigators assigned full-time to the project. Uniform officers and members of our Tactical Rescue Unit were involved in making the arrests. The four people arrested in our Region included two full patch members of the Hells Angels and one associate. Our Service is proud to participate in the joint efforts of police services across the province and Canada that focus attention on the activities of criminal organized crime. Through ongoing participation in joint force investigations, police can work together and focus resources to better protect our community.

8 Saturday May 12 is POLICE DAY Taking action against drinking and driving RIDE 101 Will a couple of beers really affect your driving? Don t miss it! Halton Regional Police want to help people find out for themselves. That s why our officers are visiting bars and pubs and inviting patrons to take a voluntary test on a Draeger, a roadside screening device used by Halton Regional Police. Police Headquarters, Oakville 1151 Bronte Road (north of the QEW) 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. The Draeger Project was introduced in Burlington several years ago before starting up in Oakville. It will soon expand to Milton and Halton Hills as well. Fun for the whole family! Crime Stoppers BBQ plus: Free Parking Giveaways Exhibits Children s Safety Village Face painting Pre-school craft area Much, much more! The Draeger Project RIDE 101 creator, Staff Sgt. Jeff Corey, watches as Rachel, a Grade 4 student at Post s Corners Public School, draws and colours a special Think of Me card that high school students distributed to drivers during a RIDE spot check in December. The Government of Ontario-Ministry of Transportation provided the resources for the Think of Me card program. Students from Post s Corners Public School and St. Domenic s Catholic School in Oakville created over 400 cards. These colourful cards served as a powerful and effective messaging tool reminding drivers to drive safely and be responsible, or risk endangering the safety and well being of children in our communities. Cst. Rob Gourley coordinated the Draeger Project in Burlington. We visited 10 bars in Burlington during the month of December and carried out 731 tests, said Cst. Gourley. Many volunteers were shocked to find that their blood alcohol levels tested higher than they expected. I never cease to be amazed by the urban myths about how to beat the test, from coins under the tongue to certain types of gum. There s only one way to beat a breathalyzer, and that is not to drink. This year, the Draeger Project was implemented in Oakville. Sgt. Chris Clarke lead the initiative and was pleased not only by the number of people who volunteered, but by the positive comments they received from patrons and bar owners alike. People appreciated being able to talk to us in a friendly, comfortable environment. They had many questions about the law and how a breathalyzer works. It was a very positive and fun learning experience. Think before you take that drink Keep in mind that the alcoholic drink you consume now can take from anywhere from a few minutes to an hour to affect your sobriety. Consider this: the last drink you consume may not begin to affect your judgement until after you begin driving. Cheered on by their peers and student officers wearing police vests, 250 students at Iroquois Ridge High School (above) participated in a RIDE 101 simulated spot check during lunch hour on December 15,. In the photo, one student is wearing nighttime fatal vision goggles donated by MADD Canada. The other student is wearing daytime goggles. Notice that neither is managing to walk in a straight line! A RIDE 101 school spot check event also took place December 5 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School, where 350 students participated. Your turn: This is the third year that we ve published our annual report in your local newspaper. For us, it s a cost-effective way to provide you with information about policing in your community. If you have any comments or suggestions about this document, let us know! Here s how to reach us: Tel: (905) , Ext bonnie.shulman@hrps.on.ca. In total, 600 young and future drivers raised their awareness of the importance of responsible driving behaviour. McDonald s Oakville created and donated a RIDE 101 Free Big Mac coupon to every student who successfully answered a skill testing question during the RIDE 101 lunchtime spot check. We can t stress it enough: think before you take that drink. Call for a taxi, get a ride from a sober friend, or use designated drivers. Do whatever it takes. Your decision could save a life. Holiday RIDE Program Statistics Vehicle Stops Roadside Screening Device Tests Roadside 12 hr licence suspensions Licence suspensions for impaired driving Liquor Seizures People Charged (Impaired/over 80) Highway Traffic Act charges Warnings Other Charges RIDE 101 students eagerly test the Draeger roadside alcohol screening device. 27,