Over the past week I have been in regular and direct contact with our Police Chief — throughout the weekend and as recently as last night — regarding the swatting incidents that have recently targeted our schools on more than one occasion.
I want residents to know that this is a matter I am monitoring closely. It has my full attention, and it will continue to have my full attention until it is resolved.
On behalf of Council, and on behalf of every resident of this community, I want to express my deep and sincere gratitude to the frontline men and women of the Cobourg Police Service.
Time and time again they have been asked to respond to situations that are, by design, intended to create chaos — and time and time again they have responded decisively with the speed and composure that the families of this community depend upon. Last week was a testament to their training, their discipline, and their genuine commitment to keeping Cobourg safe. I do not say this lightly: we are very fortunate to have them.
I also want to specifically acknowledge Councillor Adam Bureau, Chair of the Police Services Board, for the leadership he demonstrated in his public statement following these incidents. His message — grounded in collaboration, in gratitude to all first responders, and in a call for community unity — was exactly the right response, and I commend him for it.
I have said it for years. I will say it again today. The safety and security of every single resident of this community is, was, and will always remain my number one priority.
I am asking every parent and guardian in Cobourg to have the important conversations with your children. Talk to them about responsible and safe online behaviour. Talk about the dangers and risks.
The online world carries real-world consequences, and those consequences landed in our school hallways this week in a very real way.
In that same conversation, please reinforce what I believe with every fibre of my conviction: cooperation with police direction in an emergency is not optional. It is not a suggestion. It is a responsibility. When our children understand that following police directions makes them part of the solution and not part of the problem, we make every one of them safer. We make this entire community safer.
Cobourg is resilient. Cobourg is generous. Cobourg is, as it has always been, a community that rises to any challenge. We will rise to this challenge too.
Sincerely,
Lucas Cleveland
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
