Community policing is a concept which allows the police to work directly with the people of the community. It permits that very important personal contact which nurtures open discussions involving community concerns. Community policing also opens the door and provides a pathway where police work with the community and the community works with the police, together, to recognize problems and reach workable solutions,
These problems are brought forward by all members of the community and formulated into workable solutions by a body of community members known as the Community Policing Committee.
The Community Policing Committee members will be selected from residents of the Municipality of West Elgin, one member from Municipal Council, and an O.P.P. officer who has been appointed Community Policing Officer, in an attempt to involve all sectors of our community.
The member from Municipal Council and the O.P.P. officer will be non-voting members of the Community Policing Committee.
The general concerns of the committee will be of a social nature or police orientated, such as criminal or traffic problems. These concerns do not have to be those concerns which require direct police involvement.
Committee members should liaise with all members of the community so as to gain a better understanding of community concerns.
The Municipality of West Elgin will supply a meeting room suitable for the Community Policing Committee on a monthly basis.
COMMITTEE PURPOSE
To identify community concerns which are of a social nature or are police orientated. Once concerns have been identified then the committee will develop a plan to address these concerns. The strategies used to achieve these goals may or may not require direct police involvement; however the Community Policing Officer should remain in close contact to provide assistance and to help the committee stay on line.
Committee members should liaise with all members of the community so as to gain a better understanding of community concerns.
The Community Policing Committee will be a not-for-profit organization.
COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
The Community Policing Committee members will be selected from residents of the Municipality of West Elgin, one member from Municipal Council, and an O.P.P. officer, in an attempt to involve all sectors of our community.
The member from Municipal Council and the O.P.P. officer will be non-voting members of the Community Policing Committee.
RESPONSIBILITY
- To identify concerns within the community.
- Develop strategies to address these concerns,
- Approve all actions taken by sub-committees.
SUB-COMMITTEE
This committee is composed of members selected from the Community Policing Committee.
RESPONSIBILITY
- To obtain and gather information on specific situations.
- To provide data and recommendations to the Community Policing Committee so that it can make knowledgeable decisions.
The Municipality of West Elgin has also consented to the use of a room at the old Rodney Town Hall for our meetings where the general public will be invited to voice their personal concerns for the well-being of the community.
The Community Officer, in addition to his/her normal duties, will be responsible for the following:
- Attend the Community Policing meetings.
- Monitor and record plans of the Community Policing Committee.
- Liaise with community members and the committee to keep abreast of current criminal and traffic activities.
- Be knowledgeable of problems by analyzing crime and traffic statistics.
- Encourage citizens to report incidents.
CONSTITUTION OF THE WEST ELGIN
COMMUNITY POLICING COMMITTEE
Purpose: Partnership between community and police
Goals: To be the voice of the community
To identify community and individual concerns
To address concerns and implement solutions
1. The Community Policing Committee members will be volunteers selected from residents of the Municipality of West Elgin.
2. The committee shall not exceed 15 voting members.
3. Municipal Council shall appoint a member of council to this committee. This member from council will be a non-voting member.
4. A Community Policing Officer shall be present at all meetings. This O.P.P. officer will be non-voting member.
5. The committee shall meet every second Wednesday of the month unless they decide to cancel the meeting.
6. There will be no meetings in July and August.
7. Officers of this committee shall be elected at the June meeting.
8. The officers of this committee shall be: President; Vice-President; and Secretary/Treasurer.
9. Term of office for these officers shall be a minimum of one year with a possible re-election for one extra year. Any further extensions would require approval from 75% of the voting members of the committee.
10. Quorum for voting shall be 50% of the voting members of the committee.
11. Quorum for voting on Constitutional amendments shall be 75% of the voting members of the committee.
12. If any committee member is unable to fulfill their full term a new committee member shall be appointed by the Community Policing Committee.
13. The committee shall agree with Ontario Police Regulations.
14. New members shall be in good standing and reside in the Municipality of West Elgin.
15. Every voting member of the committee must be a volunteer.
WEST ELGIN COMMUNITY POLICING COMMITTEE BYLAWS
Duties of President
- Shall preside at all meetings.
- Shall only vote in the event of a tie.
- Shall represent the committee or appoint someone where required.
- Shall be one of the two signing officers.
Duties of Vice-President
- Shall act as President in his/her absence.
Duties of Secretary/Treasurer
- Shall record committee attendance and the minutes of the meetings.
- Shall distribute agendas and previous meeting minutes one week prior to all meetings.
- Shall keep a calendar of committee events.
- Shall handle communications and correspondence as required.
- Shall retain files and reports as required.
- Shall keep a separate record of all by-laws and standing motions.
- Shall establish a bank account for committee funds.
- Shall be one of the two signing officers.
- Shall give financial reports at each meeting.
- Expenditures shall be as approved by WECPC members.
- Shall inform committee if a member has missed three (3) consecutive meetings without sending regrets as his/her position on the committee would then be considered vacant. Committee member responsibility is to send regrets if they cannot attend a committee meeting.
COMMITTEE PROCEDURES FOR AGENDA
An agenda is the outline of all the business intended to be covered during the meeting. Committee members should receive a copy agendas and previous meeting minutes one week prior to all meetings. This helps to be certain that no important business is forgotten. It also reminds members of the meeting and lets them arrive at the meeting prepared to discuss the issues on the agenda and to correct errors or omissions of the previous meeting’s minutes.
Outline:
1. Call to order.
2. Additions to the Agenda.
3. Approval of Agenda.
4. Approval of minutes of previous meeting.
5. Business Arising from Previous Meeting Minutes.
6. O.P.P. Report.
7. Regrets.
8. Correspondence.
9. Sec/ Treasurer’s Report.
10. Sub-Committee Reports.
11. Committee Member Reports.
12. Unfinished or Postponed Business
14. New Business
15. Date and time for next meeting
16. Adjournment
