Before being sworn in as St. Thomas Police Chief, Marc Roskamp left no doubt as to one of his priorities.
In a conversation with the deputy chief in November 2022, Roskamp stressed, “If we’re healthy on the inside, we will be healthy on the outside to deliver services to the community.”
He continued, “From a public safety perspective, I believe so strongly in the health of the community and its citizens. And one of my main priorities will also be to build up the resiliency of our members of the police family.
“In recent years, there has been a shift in police culture and some of that is the direct result of the dynamic nature of policing, the pandemic and the widespread social challenges that we have been facing.
“And this has changed the collective heart of policing in many ways and the wellness of officers.”

This came in the aftermath of the deaths of several officers on duty in Ontario and Vancouver.
That pledge to prioritize the well-being of members of the St. Thomas Police Service in tandem with an uptick in violent crime in the community has led to the formation of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT).

The establishment of the team was announced this past week although the unit has already been in action.
In a conversation last November with Police Services Board chair Dan Reith, he confirmed the crime index was up 13 per cent at the time.
In 2023, the service was logging 25,000 calls for service annually, 60,000 calls into the communications centre and 15,000 9-1-1 calls according to police figures, thus the increase in the crime severity index.
And so Roskamp received the green light to proceed with the formation of the CIRT.
The unit is comprised of a dozen police officers trained to safely contain situations involving armed or potentially dangerous suspects and to operate as a vital support unit within the St. Thomas Police Service, employing specialized equipment, rigorous training and a collaborative team approach to resolve high-risk incidents peacefully.

We sat down with Roskamp yesterday (March 8) to get further insight into the CIRT unit.
“I said that when I was appointed Chief,” he reiterated, “our officers deserve to be safe and feel safe just as our community deserves to be safe and feel safe.
“We’re finding there is an uptick in confrontations and violence in communities throughout Canada. Some of that is happening here in St. Thomas and so this new critical incident response team is designed to equip our officers with additional equipment and capabilities that are unlike any other officer at the front line.
“We’re very pleased that the board has approved this new capability and new team.
“They have been launched and they have already been deployed.”
He made it clear this is not a tactical unit, it is a containment team.
“A tactical unit is a different accreditation by the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
“Our team is a containment team and they do have different functions. Ones that deal with armed or dangerous individuals in the community and we are very pleased at this time it has now been actioned.”
According to a media release, the unit “adheres to strict policies and procedures, ensuring operations are conducted with the highest level of proficiency.

“CIRT stands ready to assist our frontline and investigative units in a variety of critical incidents, weapons-related matters, including but not limited to barricaded persons, hostage situations and apprehensions involving armed suspects.”

“The team’s responsibilities extend beyond containment, including the coordination of searches for lost or missing persons, thereby serving as a multifaceted asset to the community and the police service.”
Roskamp noted, “For all 12 members of this team, this is a secondary duty, in addition to their regular frontline assignments or criminal investigation or investigative assignments.
“So, when duty calls for armed or barricaded hostage situations or matters of heightened risk, then we action this team and we determine how many are required and put them into play.”
The release points out, “CIRT stands ready to assist our frontline and investigative units in a variety of critical incidents, weapons-related matters, including but not limited to barricaded persons, hostage situations and apprehensions involving armed suspects.

“Our Number 1 goal is to provide public safety services to the community. We are here to serve the community and this is just another tool in our toolbox to make sure we provide and deliver on responsive services.”

“The team’s versatility and training allow for a swift and effective response to any potential threat, enhancing public safety and peace of mind.”
As for deployment, Roskamp explained, “They are all from different units, different platoons and that is for a reason and when, and if, needed we pick and choose so there is not a gap or staffing deficiency in one area when they are deployed.”
Roskamp concluded, “Our Number 1 goal is to provide public safety services to the community. We are here to serve the community and this is just another tool in our toolbox to make sure we provide and deliver on responsive services.
“And again with the upticks that we’re seeing, and the data tells us there is an uptick in violent crime and we need to address that.
“And, this is one way we are addressing that.”
Last July a media briefing was hosted by the London Police Service following a joint force criminal investigation that began in 2022 in Aylmer with the arrest of four members of the Outlaw motorcycle Groups and eight associates.
At that briefing, St. Thomas Police Service Insp. Steve Bogart observed, “Our smaller communities are not immune to these issues, but certainly, sometimes we are more aware than larger centres because we are so connected to our community.”
And for the criminal element that believes smaller municipalities like St. Thomas are easy targets to infiltrate and attractive places to conduct drug and other dealings, the CIRT unit awaits.
Trained, equipped and ready for deployment.

Related posts:

‘If we’re healthy on the inside, we will be healthy on the outside to deliver services to the community’ – incoming St. Thomas Police Chief Marc Roskamp

St. Thomas Police Service five-year collective agreement “meets the modern moment” – Chief Marc Roskamp

HEALTH UNIT LEVY LEAVES COUNCIL LIVID

At the Feb. 2 council meeting, Dan Sheridan, the city’s Director of Finance, dropped a bombshell on members.
Southwestern Public Health presented its 2024 levy to the city and it came at a whopping 37 per cent increase over last year’s levy.
For this year, the city is obliged to pay just over $1.5 million, up from $1.1 million in 2023.
In his report to council, Sheridan advised, “Section 72 of the Health Protection and Promotions Act requires obligated municipalities to pay the expenses of health units; therefore, staff are not seeking approval for the increase, just making Council aware of the increase.”
City staff had budgeted for a four per cent increase so it is easy to see there is quite a discrepancy.
Almost $400,000, which Sheridan is hopeful can be offset by surpluses in other areas.
The levy drew instant pushback from members of council.
Can it be appealed, Coun. Steve Peters wondered.
Coun. Gary Clarke took it a step further, “let’s vote no and see where it goes. This is an outrageous budget request.”
Coun. Steve Wookey cautioned, “I would like to hear from the authority (the health unit) in person, my guess is they are doing things that are mandated by the province.”
Mayor Joe Preston chimed in with, “Health is not in the municipal budget. We have to be firm with the health unit that increases have to be held to a certain limit.”
Sheridan admitted, “I don’t know what alternatives there are to appeal.”
He added, “I have not heard from the Ministry of Health on our options. We are required to start paying on a monthly basis.”
Council voted 8-1 to accept the report and ask for further information from Southwestern Public Health.
Coun. Clarke was the lone dissenting vote.
As a result, a trio of representatives from the health unit, including Program Director Peter Heywood, are going to make a presentation to council at Monday’s (March 11) meeting.
It would appear there is little recourse other than biting the bullet and anteing up the funds.

SALARY DISCLOSURE FOR 2023

With the arrival of March, it is public sector salary disclosure time at city hall.
Sandra Schulz, Director of Human Resources in her report to council for Monday’s meeting notes, “The Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996 (the Act) was enacted to assure the public disclosure of salary and taxable benefits paid in respect to employment in the public sector.
“The Act requires organizations in receipt of substantial Provincial funding to disclose the amount of salary and taxable benefits paid to individuals to whom the employer paid at least $100,000 as salary in a calendar year.”
Her report is different this year in that it doesn’t break down the names of individuals included in what is known as the Sunshine List.
That is being withheld until March 31 and then you have to request to see the list or, as an alternative, wade through the province’s website to find the relevant material.
We will be doing the former.
In 2023, 142 municipal employees received a salary of $100,000 or more, up from 131 in 2022, although according to her report from last year, that number was 132.
Here is the breakdown for 2023:

• 51 employees who are members of the St. Thomas Police Association (uniform);
• 42 employees who are members of the St. Thomas Professional Fire Fighters Association (STPFFA);
• 40 Non-Union employees of the city;
• 6 Administration employees of the St. Thomas Police Service;
• 1 Management employee from the St. Thomas Public Library;
• 1 employee who is a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 35;
• 1 employee who is a member of Unifor Canada Local 27.

FOR THE CALENDAR

The city is reviewing and updating its Official Plan and developing urban design guidelines.
The plan is being updated with a view to planning for the next 25 years of growth in the city.
According to information from the city, “The Official Plan will be updated with information from a range of background studies and input from the community.

“The Official Plan will also look at many things such as what type of housing is needed and where, where jobs should be located, how to support and enhance the downtown and the potential impacts of climate change on our infrastructure and communities.”
On Tuesday, March 19 from 6 until 8 p.m., the public is invited to join a Zoom meeting to learn about the draft urban design guidelines, ask questions and provide feedback.
To register for the virtual open house, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpc-2prDorG9Rtj2orpjPAbqmyaCjWeH_2#/registration

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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.