Funding will give Six Nations police services new crime-fighting technology
NEWS November 28th, 2022
BRANTFORD – The Ontario government is providing more than $6 million to help First Nations police services better protect their communities. The investment is part of the province’s First Nations Policing Modernization Initiative, and will be used to purchase new technology, including mobile workstations, body cameras and automated license plate readers.
“First Nations police services need modern equipment to keep their communities safe,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “This initiative will provide police officers and personnel with the tools they need to fight crime effectively and efficiently while in the field and connected to a local command network.”
“When I was first elected MPP, I was honoured to be invited on a ‘ride along’ with the Six Nations Police Service, said Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma. “From that ‘ride-along’ to the announcement today, we have come a long was to help modernize and equip Six Nations Police Services to increase security of the police officers and improve safety of the community”.
Six Nations Police Service will receive $642,612.01.
“A very big Thank You goes to MPP Will Bouma for spearheading this initiative”, said Six Nations Police Service Chief Darren Montour. “His determination and persistence enabled all First Nations Police Services in Ontario to obtain this much needed technological funding which will make all of our communities safer.”
“As we look to modernize law enforcement across the province, it is critical that we support First Nations police services,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. “These targeted investments will enhance efficiency, and give officers the tools they need to serve their communities and remain safe on the job.”
QUICK FACTS
Police services in First Nations communities will use the funding to undertake modernization work, including:
- Mobile Workstations: an information technology suite of equipment embedded within a police vehicle for mobile/remote access to records management system databases, the Canadian Police Information Centre, and police services’ internal servers.
- Infrared Technologies: thermal imaging cameras are an investigative tool to assist in suspect apprehension, evidence gathering and search and rescue operations by detecting heat radiation of persons or objects.
- Live Scan Machines: support the process of capturing fingerprints electronically and can be shared immediately with police services across the country, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
- Body-Worn Cameras: devices that record interactions between community members (e.g., the public, suspects, and victims) and law enforcement officers.
- In-Car Cameras: capable of recording all interactions between police and the public, including traffic stops and rear seat prisoner transportation.
- Automated Licence Plate Readers (ALPR): a system of cameras and supporting software that captures licence plate information and immediately compares plate numbers to a Ministry of Transportation database with vehicle and vehicle owner information.
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For more information, contact MPP Will Bouma at 519-759-0361 or will.bouma@pc.ola.org