By Cecilia Nasmith/Northumberland 89.7 FM
The monthly Cram-A-Cruiser events organized by auxiliary officers of the Cobourg Police Service have been so successful that the food and cash they collect basically account for 25% of what the Northumberland Fare Share food bank puts on its shelves.
Chief Paul VandeGraaf shared the news at the December Police Service Board meeting during his monthly update, adding that 2024 events brought in 23,984 lb. of food (up 12% over last year) plus $31,120 in donations (up 13% over last year).
Another great success is this year’s Shop With A Cop initiative that saw 10 children participating. This favourite holiday event sees an officer team up with a child chosen by fellow officers or social-service agencies for a Christmas outing. The duo set out to buy presents for the child’s family (including one for the child, of course), then lunch and an afternoon gift-wrapping session. VandeGraaf thanked participating officers and local businesses that help support the project.
The Festive RIDE program is in full swing, kicked off at the end of November. The very first night, they stopped 200 vehicles and deployed approved screening devices 13 times – two three-day suspensions were issued. The next night, 150 stops were made and one charge was laid.
“Charges are on the rise provincially, and they are definitely on the rise locally,” VandeGraaf said – adding a plug for the Operation Red Nose safe-ride-home program, which is on the lookout for volunteers.
In non-Christmas news, November saw the launch of a new initiative, the Warrant Apprehension and Bail Compliance project. Within the first few weeks, officers made 16 arrests, laid 38 additional charges, executed 22 warrants related to violations of release orders, and made seven bail-compliance checks that resulted in three arrests.
“We have made a very large impact in a very short time,” the chief said.
“We are ensuring those in our community released on conditions obey by those conditions”
Enhanced downtown presence has seen beefed-up patrols during those peak hours businesses request them – early morning before opening and early evening as they are closing. Forty-three additional foot patrols were deployed between Nov. 25 and Dec. 8.
“The impact was immediately felt with reduced complaints from businesses,” VandeGraaf noted.
The early-evening hours are a more difficult time to devote officers for this task, he said, “but in the morning our officers can be counted on to be downtown, highly visible and moving people as we need to.”
With the new homeless shelter at 310 Division St. opening, they are working closely with staff, municipal bylaw officers, and nearby residents and businesses. As well, they sit on the community advisory council for this service. Between Nov 25 and Dec. 8, they fielded additional engagement patrols “to be sure all businesses and people in that area feel safe and heard.”
Unfortunately, most complaints seem to arise from noise in the gazebo at the rear of the building, which is not a matter within police jurisdiction.
“Excellent work on the warrant-apprehension project,” member Sean Graham commented.
“I think that’s exactly what the people in Cobourg are looking for. I have heard very positive things myself from a few business owners downtown. To see the police being active on this and holding people accountable is nice.”
