Police Week was officially launched Monday at the Community Safety and Well-being Planning forum. Representatives from the City of Greater Sudbury, Sudbury Healthy Community Cabinet, the Greater Sudbury Police Services and partners from the human and social services sectors, municipal officers, community-based organizations and residents gathered to begin the process of developing comprehensive and integrated framework for community safety and well-being planning. At the same event, Community Mobilization Sudbury, an `innovative, collaborative approach to reducing risk and improving community well-being` was formally introduced to the media. This initiative provides community partners with a venue to plan multi-agency team interventions to situations that place individuals, families and places at high risk of harm.
Mayor Marianne Matichuk was also on hand to read the official proclamation of Police Week. The theme for Police Week 2014, which is being celebrated May 11th – 17th, is “Building Community Partnerships”.
The Greater Sudbury Police Service is pleased to participate in Police Week and acknowledges that policing today involves much more than just enforcing laws. Although they have a key role, community safety cannot be the sole responsibility of police.
“Community mobilization and community engagement are critical components to building a safer and healthier community in Greater Sudbury.,” states Chief of Police Paul Pedersen. He adds that “Our partnership with the community is essential in preventing crime and making our citizens safer. The police can’t do it alone. We need the support of every resident of Greater Sudbury.”
Extensive collaboration and partnerships with first responders, education, health, mental health, social services, justice, corrections, community groups, government, and neighbourhood residents have been established in Greater Sudbury with a goal to improve overall community safety and personal well-being. A number of these collaborations will be showcased during Police Week.