NAPS establishing Community Consultation Committees in all serviced First Nations
NAPS press release ...
Community Consultation Committees Planned for NAN Communities
The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service is formalizing monthly Community Consultation Committees in each of the communities it serves, beginning in January 2009. This fulfills a commitment made by Acting Chief John C. Domm following discussions with Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Chiefs last summer.
Regular police dialogue with the community is a proven way to build relationships of trust, reduce fear of crime, and mobilize community members to address concerns about safety and security. Experts from the United Nations, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, and Canada’s own National Crime Prevention Strategy point to participation of community members as a key element of community safety and well-being.
Chief Connie Gray-McKay of Mishkeegogamang is a strong supporter of community consultation. “Police are an integral part of the social web in our communities,” she stresses. “They are a support mechanism for community safety. Many of our social problems cause great anxiety in the community and threaten the well-being of our most vulnerable members, especially children and elders. Regular meetings help police know what is important to the community, and lets the community know what issues the police are dealing with.”
Acting Chief Domm points out that these are community meetings, not police meetings. “Police are only one part of the equation. The purpose of the consultations is to identify community-based concerns, seek common solutions, identify who has a role in the solution, implement a plan to address the concern, and provide a mechanism for feedback on how well the plan worked.”
“These Committees will formalize what many NAPS officers do already when they consult with community members and Band Chiefs,” he stated. “The difference is that we are inviting other key stakeholders, including an elder and youth. Our officers will record what was discussed and report up to NAPS Headquarters. This will give us a better sense of community issues and priorities, challenges and success stories.”
In preparation for these meetings, designated NAPS officers from each community served by NAPS attended full-day workshops in Sioux Lookout and Cochrane in early December 2008. Committees will be up and running in January 2009.
For further information, please contact:
Sgt. Bob Baxter
Media Relations- Phone 807-623-2161- Ext.241
Nishnawbe –Aski Police Headquarters
Thunder Bay, Ontario