Pubdate: Fri, 20 May 2005 Source: Bloor West Villager (CN ON) Copyright: 2005 Bloor West Villager Contact: http://www.insidetoronto.ca/to/bloorw/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2220 Author: Stuart Green Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) RESIDENTS, POLICE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER: CHIEF Co-operation Key to Battling Crime Policing neighbourhoods is a two-way street and the focus of this year's police week is to get out the message that residents and officers working together is the best way to build safer communities. "By fostering a positive relationship, we can together build safer communities," Police Chief Bill Blair said at the launch of police week in Toronto earlier this week. "Our success cannot be measured on how many people we arrest, our success can only be measured in how safe and secure the public feels as well as their confidence in us to do our job." Visit Station Across the city this week, residents are being encouraged to visit their local police station and get to know the officers who work in their neighbourhoods. "The importance of police week cannot be overstated," the chief said. "It promotes a better understanding of what we do in the police community." "In a city where the police know the public they serve and the public knows the police officers who serve them and where a relationship of mutual respect is built, we will have a safe city." Police Services Board chair Pam McConnell (Ward 28, Toronto Centre-Rosedale) said the week is a good way for all with an interest in community safety to come together, but the real work goes on all year. "Real and lasting strategies for effective crime prevention will never come from any one group or any one act," she said. "Solutions can only be found if we truly work together all year round, 52 weeks of the year." More Resources Community Safety Minister MPP Monte Kwinter (York Centre), on hand to represent the provincial government, said the Liberals are committed to making communities safer by giving police more resources and flexibility to do their job. He said an announcement on how the province will flow money to allow the hiring of 1,000 new officers is forthcoming and pointed to a pilot project in Toronto where police and city officials have been given overlapping powers to combat the "scourge" of marijuana grow-ops. "A close partnership between the police and the many communities that make up Toronto is an illustration of the success of community policing," he said. "Fostering co-operation between the community and police is key to achieving our goals to making Ontario safer and more prosperous." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake