Policing Priorities

Smoking seems to be a bigger crime than violence on city streets or possible crimes against court officials.

If you can make sense out of these two stories let me know. The "no smoking" police have the cash it seems to grow in number while the real ones struggle with financial problems.

Five more officers hired to enforce smoking ban

Windsor Star, Thursday, May 18, 2006

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will hire an additional five enforcement officers to ensure compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which goes into effect May 31.

"This will allow the health unit to work with individuals from the business community as well as the community at large to ensure overall compliance with this important health legislation," Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara, chairman of the health unit, said Wednesday.

The act will prohibit smoking in enclosed work and public places, including restaurants, bars, sports arenas, private clubs, entertainment venues and offices. It also toughens laws against tobacco sales to minors and will restrict the display of tobacco products in retail outlets, leading up to a total display ban by May 31, 2008.


Security coffers run dry
Mayor says extra court officers straining resources
Windsor Star, Thursday, May 18, 2006

Faced with a summer of police ranks depleted by vacations and the demands of the festival season, Mayor Eddie Francis has warned the attorney general's office it cannot count on police for extra court security much beyond May 25.

Francis met Wednesday with deputy Crown attorney Anne Merritt and informed her the increased security provided by Windsor police officers, added at both downtown criminal court locations after a man slashed himself during a court appearance six weeks ago, is straining limited police resources.

"We can't afford it," said Francis. "It was a temporary solution that's draining our resources. We need our officers on the streets preventing crime, not tied up in court."

The mayor said the issue will likely be decided at the police services board meeting scheduled for May 25. In the meantime, talks with the attorney general's office, court staff and police brass will continue, he said. The issue was not resolved during the Wednesday meeting.

Attorney general's office spokesman Brendan Crawley said the meeting was "part of a continuing and ongoing effort to address the issue of court security."

Police department Deputy Chief Roger Mortimore said police have had six officers, three at each court entrance, assigned to the special court duty since the slashing incident. They search all visitors to the Ontario Court and Superior Court with metal detectors to ensure they are not carrying weapons.

While the number of officers is relatively small, Mortimore said it still takes away from the resources available for other divisions, given the demands of scheduling around-the-clock shifts. He said the situation will worsen with summer vacations and the demands for extra policing for outdoor festivals.

Francis also warned the city is not willing to pick up the province's tab for finding a permanent solution. He said the attorney general's office is studying a walk-through metal scanning system, similar to those at airports, at a cost of between $600,000 and $800,000.