Caledon OPP request four more constables
By ALAN LICZYK

Caledon OPP requested four additional constables and one additional civilian member in its 2007 budget proposal to Caledon council last Tuesday.

Inspector Andy Karski, detachment commander of Caledon OPP, told council with the enhancement they would have six sergeants, 62 constables and six civilians at a cost of $8.8 million. This would work out to a cost of $149.97 per person in the Town of Caledon. Currently there are six sergeants, 58 constables and five civilians at a cost of $8.2 million or $138.92 per person. The provincial average is $208 per person.

The four additional officers would be deployed directly to the platoon. The additional civilian position is for a data analyst for crime and traffic trends.

Karski also requested the purchase of 10 in-car computers at a cost of $200,000. This would improve officer efficiency, data integrity, officer safety and police visibility.

The inspector also presented a number of statistics from the last two years.

He noted 2005 was the most recent year they had for crime statistics. There were 230 violent crimes that year, a 26 per cent decrease from 2004. The clearance rate or solving of the crimes was 89 per cent.

In 2005 there were 1,513 reported crimes,a decrease of 18.2 per cent from 2004. The clearance rate was 39 per cent.

The statistics for traffic enforcement were more up to date. In 2006 there were 16,441 offence notices issued, 455 drinking drivers removed from the roadways, 41,416 computer checks and 89,469 contacts with the public.

Karski added 1.95 million kilometres were driven by officers on patrol, but there were only 18 collisions involving a cruiser.

In 2006, Caledon had 19 serious collisions, eight of them fatal resulting in 11 deaths. This was down from 33 serious collisions, 16 of them fatal resulting in 18 deaths in 2005.

In 2006, four of the eight fatal collisions occurred in the 10 identified hot spot locations. The year before, seven of the 16 fatal collisions occurred in hot spot locations.

"The results are quite encouraging," Karski said.

He also talked about the Policing Advisory Council of Caledon which will continue to assist the police in the areas of restorative justice and community policing. He explained for 2007, traffic enforcement and visibility will be the primary focuses of the committees.

Addressing a question from Councillor Annette Groves about graffiti, Karski said four young offenders were arrested.

"It's not acceptable behaviour in our community," Groves said.

Councillor Gord McClure noted he and Councillor Allan Thompson attended a meeting in Valleywood recently and they were asked where the foot patrols were in Valleywood.

Karski replied the officers have been split between RIDE checks and foot patrols.

Councillor Doug Beffort commented when he was campaigning in the last municipal election the two issues that came to the door most often were taxes and traffic.

"I know you're trying," he told Karski.

Beffort asked if photo radar might be coming back.

Karski replied photo radar isn't something the OPP can participate in. He added photo radar is off the table at the provincial government.