An interesting day for those who enjoy meeting men and women in uniform, as Tuesday marked Police Day 2016 at Station Mall.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, Sault OPP, Sault RCMP and Anishinabek Police Services, along with officers from agencies such as the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre, Canada Border Services Agency and (as special guests) the U.S. Coast Guard were available to meet and greet with the public.
Sault OPP Constable Monique Baker was one of many officers on hand to greet the public and was accompanied by Constable Peter DunlOPP (Dunlop with an OPP twist, the "officer" himself being a stuffed doll).
Tuesday marked DunlOPP's first public appearance, Baker told SooToday.
DunlOPP will be at public events and visiting schools with OPP officers throughout the province.
"We definitely want kids to think of policing (as a possible, future career option)…DunlOPP is a great way to relate to kids and have conversations with them," Baker said.
Law enforcement officers and their gear (including vessels from the RCMP and U.S. Coast Guard, in the Station Mall parking lot facing Bay Street) and community agencies which work with police were scheduled to be at Station Mall until 8 p.m.
Children were welcome to have their photographs taken with police officers.
May 15 to 21 is Police Week in Ontario.
Police Week started in 1970 and is observed every year in May alongside Peace Officers Memorial Day, which is recognized internationally May 15.
Discover Policing for Safer Communities was the theme of this year's Police Day, encouraging the public to be aware of how police work with many community agencies to keep the city safe, educate people about the risks of unhealthy, risky behaviour, and also reach out to those considering careers in law enforcement, whether in uniform or as civilian employees.
Over the next two years, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services is looking for 2,000 new employees, due mainly to older workers retiring, said Barb Wenzowski of the Correctional Services recruitment unit, speaking to SooToday.
"From my perspective, I think it's critical that what we do as police officers within our communities can't be accomplished without an effective working relationship with our community residents and with our partner agencies," said Robert Keetch, Sault Police Services chief, speaking to an audience gathered at Station Mall.
"I'm extremely proud of our police service and the relationships we have with community members and agency partners, we'll look to expand on that, but I can tell you from a policing perspective, and I go through this on a monthly basis (by looking at local crime stats), you are safe in Sault Ste. Marie," Keetch said.
"Hopefully we reflect your interests and expectations, and if not so, please provide us with input and we'll strive to improve our level of service," Keetch said.
Community agencies in attendance at Station Mall with useful information for the public included Crime Stoppers, John Howard Society, Algoma Family Services, 2-1-1, the Sault Ste. Marie Neighbourhood Resource Centre, Women in Crisis, the City of Sault Ste. Marie's Emergency Management Program, Algoma Public Health, and many others.