ROTARY MOMENT
None this week
GUEST SPEAKER:
Past Pres. Dave Andrews welcomed Police Chief Paul Martin as our guest speaker.
Chief Martin has spoken to our club several times now, bringing us up to date on policing in Oshawa and Durham Region. He noted several trends and challenges.
- crime is increasing - areas of concern are - more guns, homicides, the opioid crisis (Canada wide) in particular fentanyl and the unsheltered (tent cities)
- opioid use happens in all demographics and all walks of life; there is ++ contamination with fentanyl; police partner with Public Health, Durham Connect, Mental Health, Addiction Agencies
- crimes may seem minor, but should be reported when they occur, most arrests are not random, but are the result of a pattern which has developed and been followed
- High School "fights" are becoming more violent, more students carry a knife; there are 65,000 students a day in our high schools
- most "gangs" are based in Toronto, but members live in this area and are involved in human trafficing and prostitution
- most guns are purchased in the US and brought across the border illegally
- if a person wishes to turn in a gun ot guns, the police will send someone to pick it up, prefer this to having someone walk in to the station with a gun!!
- currently are waiting for a report on the trial of Body Worn Cameras (June 2018 - June 2019)
- costs are high - continually trying to find efficiencies
Chief Martin answered questions from members and regarding Speed Limits, Gun Registry, banning guns and other topics.
Past Pres. Allan Finnigan thanked Chief Martin for his informative talk and open discussion with members.
Meeting Adjourned
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