Community Oriented Response and Engagement (CORE)

Our Community Oriented Response and Engagement (CORE) branch encompasses several units with Kingston Police, and oversees their various community programs and engagement. The branch utilizes the various units within to plan and execute initiatives meant to resolve community concerns and on-going problems.

Our community programs and engagement units

Beat, Bicycle, and Mounted Units
Our Beat, Bicycle, and Mounted units routinely patrol the downtown core and assist patrol as required. The goal of these specialized units is to enhance crime prevention and community engagement through regular contact with residents and businesses.

Roles of our Beat, Bicycle, and Mounted units

These units provide valuable assistance with duties such as:

  • Managing entertainment districts
  • Search and rescue operations
  • Park and trail safety

 

Constable Filip Wisniak

Beat Officer

 

 Constable Sara Groenewegen and horse Murney 

Mounted Unit

Constable Sarah Groenewegen 

and Murney
613-549-4660 x 6328

 group of officers on bicycles 

Bicycle Patrol
 Community Officer

Our Community Programs Officer (CPO) along with other members our CORE branch provides coordinated, community-based crime prevention initiatives, with a focus on neighbourhoods, businesses, the aging sector, and risked based crime prevention.

 

 

Community Programs Officer 

Constable Greg Anderson
613-549-4660 x 6191

 

Community safety and crime prevention programs

These are some of the programs and initiatives our CPO organizes, supports, and participates in throughout the year:

 Coffee with a cop

Coffee with a Cop opens the door for interactions outside of the crisis situations that typically bring law enforcement officers and community members together.  Attending a Coffee with a Cop event is an easy way to get to know the men and women who serve your community and let them know about the issues that matter most to you.

Learn more about the Coffee with a Cop program.

2 officers having coffee with civilians Coffee with a cop
School Resource Officers
Every school in the City of Kingston is assigned a School Resource Officer (SRO). The role of the SRO’s is to provide support to students, parents, staff and administrators through information, education, and implementation of a variety of programs.

 

Twitter @kpschoolcop / Instagram kpschoolcop 

 

PC Valerie Hurding

Constable Valerie Hurding

613-549-4660 ext. 6213

 

Constable Jennifer Knott

613-544-4660 ext. 6374

PC Greg Anderson

Constable Greg Anderson

613-549-4660 ext. 6191
Roles and responsibilities of our SRO’s
  • Law and safety related lectures.
  • Guidance and resolution of incidents through verbal caution, counseling, mediation, diversion to an intervention program or possibly a charge.
  • Support of the Safe Schools Act, the Accepting Schools Act, the Police/School Board Protocol and the Community Threat Assessment Protocol.
  • Work with partner agencies (KFL&A Public Health and Kingston Partners for a Safe Community) to deliver programs such as Drive for Life, Racing Against Drugs/Steer Clear of Drugs and Summer Safety Days.
  • Parent/School/Police meetings to address issues such as student re-introduction to school after suspensions and follow up’s for issues surrounding the schools
  • Support of additional programs including School Bus Patroller Safety Program, WITS Program, Community Helpers, Relationship Matters…Bullying and SPEAR.
  • Monitor and follow up incidents that occur either at a school or with school aged children, including CTAP (Community Threat Assessments) where individuals are identified as possible risks within the school setting and safety planning and meetings are required to assess the risks.

Our SRO’s also work with partner agencies (KFL&A Public Health and Kingston Partners for a Safe Community) to deliver a variety of programs to help build relationships students and educate.

 

PARTY Program

The PARTY program involves a complete day of Trauma/Accident and Consequences of poor choices for Grade 11’s at all high schools.  Police do a presentation on impaired/distracted driving, including walking them through a typical accident scene from the dispatch to the notification of next of kin.  Then Paramedics and Fire do a presentation followed by a trip to the ER to speak with Trauma Staff, OR at KGH and ending up in the Morgue.  (All High School’s Grade 11 Students). This YouTube video provides a look inside PARTY Program.
Race Against Drugs
The Race Against Drugs program is a fun filled day at a location outside of the school, where several different stations are set up in an auditorium setting, music playing and timed stations as they rotate around the room.  Each station is an educational piece.  The police arrange a game wearing “impaired vision” googles and gloves and have to perform a series of actions that require fine motor skills.  Some other stations include tobacco (health Canada), CBSA, CN Police, Public Health, Nutrition etc.  (All Grade 6 Students at All Schools in Kingston and South Frontenac).
Drive for Life
The Drive for Life program involves secondary schools presentations to grades 11 & 12 about Impaired Driving.  Students are put through a typical scenario of what would happen if someone were to be stopped/arrested for Impaired Driving and the consequences.  (All High Schools, grade 11 &12).
Bus Patrollers
The Bus Patrollers program is a joint initiative with Tri-Board and Police, instructing selected Grade 6 Students how to become Bus Patrollers.  Power point combined with interactive instruction on the Bus, with emergency planning.  (All selected grade 6 Bus Patrollers in Kingston and South Frontenac).
Stop the Stigma
A Mental Health Presentation to all grade 5 & 6’s in all schools in Kingston.  An interactive jeopardy style game educating them on Mental Health and the negative Stigma that surrounds it.  This is to raise awareness and stop the negative stigma about it.
Sexting
A 1 hour presentation to all grade 7’s & 8’s educating them on Sexting and their digital Image.  The laws surrounding “Child Pornography” and the consequences with both Police and their School when sending Sext’s.
WITS/LEADS Program

The WITS programs bring together schools, families and communities to help elementary school children deal with bullying and peer victimization. WITS has two components: the WITS Primary Program (Kindergarten - Grade 3) and WITS LEADS Program (Grades 4 - 6). Both programs have shown research-based effectiveness in schools.

The WITS Primary Program teaches children in Kindergarten to Grade 3 to make safe and positive choices when faced with peer conflict. The WITS acronym - Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out and Seek help - provides a common language that children and the adults in their environment can use to talk about and respond to peer victimization.

The WITS LEADS program is a more grown-up version of WITS designed for students in Grades 4 to 6. The LEADS Program teaches five problem-solving strategies to help children deal with conflict and keep safe: Look and listen, Explore points of view, Act, Did it work? and Seek help. Both WITS and LEADS are literature based programs (in English and French) with activities that may be integrated throughout a variety of subject areas.
Cyber-Bullying

A 1 hour presentation to all grade 5’s & 6’s to teach them what cyber-bullying is, and different types of Bullying. Also the role Police & School play in these incidents and their accountability.
Internet Safety
A presentation to all grade 3’s & 4’s regarding dangers on the internet and safety planning and tips that can be taken to minimize the dangers, including safety in the home.
Community Helpers
Presentations to all Kindergarten classes, introducing Police and the role we play in the community. As well as how/when to call Police for help, how to identify Police and the different roles/responsibilities we have.
Traffic Safety Unit
Our Traffic Safety Unit works every day to discourage and prevent speeding, aggressive driving, running stop signs, disobeying amber or red lights, texting and/or distracted driving and more. The unit also responds to all traffic complaints with a suspect as well as all general community complaints where reports are made of traffic issues such as excessive speeding, disobeying signs, traffic lights, etc.

Kingston Police van and motorcycles 

Roles and responsibilities of the Traffic Safety unit

Traffic Safety Officers are trained in collision reconstruction and are on call for all motor vehicle collisions involving serious bodily harm or fatalities.

When not investigating serious collisions, the unit makes traffic safety a priority through proactive enforcement. Each month, the unit participates in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program with the goal of improving traffic safety and reducing collisions.

Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (S.T.E.P.)

STEP involves targeting a selected traffic/driving issue for each month based on community concerns and on-going traffic safety issues. While continuing their general duties, traffic safety officers will also focus on the specific problem area for the entire month. The "Big Four" are the most common traffic safety issues that are often the target of STEP.

  • Speeding
  • Impaired Driving
  • Distracted Driving
  • Stop Signs and Red Lights

Driving Rules, Safety Tips, Information
Youth Officer
Our Youth Programs Officer (YPO) is responsible for planning and coordinating community youth programs (12-24 years) as well as acting as the Youth Criminal Justice Act coordinator.

Roles and responsibilities of our Youth Officer

  • Act as a resource on specific issues related to youth.
  • Conduct proactive police initiatives involving youth in our community.
  • Provide support and assistance and youth leadership within a team environment.
  • Liaise with other police agencies and non-police agencies as required in developing informational and educational material and programs for youth.
Constable Ashley Jackson

 Youth Programs Officer 

 Constable Ashley Jackson
613-549-4660 x 6327

Instagram - kpyouthcop
Twitter- @kpyouthcop

Services and programs facilitated by our Youth Programs Officer

Youth Diversion
Youth Diversion is a charitable organization, which, has offered programs and services for youth in the Kingston area. Youth can be referred to Youth Diversion by way of a referral from Police and/or Crown Attorney.

Youth Diversions purpose is to help youth to overcome challenges by: providing individualized services and programs to divert youth from risk; providing both intervention and prevention services; and, working collaboratively and in partnership with youth, their families, other agencies and our community. 
Extrajudicial Measures (EJM) and Extrajudicial Sanctions (EJS)
EJM occurs when a youth is referred by the police prior to charge being laid. EJS occurs when a youth is referred by the Crown Attorney after a charge has been laid. EJM and EJS (funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services) can be used to support/assist youth who are aged 12-17 at the time an offence was committed and who were charged with a low risk offence within the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington county areas. These programs allow a youth to take accountability for an offence that they have committed while also providing education and support for the youth and their family to prevent further conflict with the law.

A youth’s voluntary participation and engagement in an EJM/EJS program means that they may be able to avoid criminal charges/criminal record.
Youth Justice Committee Program
This volunteer facilitated program (funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General), seeks to allow victims/persons harmed and the youth offender to come together in an effort to repair the harm and hold youth accountable for their actions.
Youth In Policing Initiative (YIPI)

The YIPI initiative offers employment with Kingston Police for youth 15-18 years of age who are attending school in the Kingston area. The program provides a positive paid work experience, on the job training, and mentorship opportunities.
Police Athletic League (PAL)
PAL is hosted at the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston, 1300 Bath Road. The league provides free sports to youth ages 13-17, every Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. at the West End Hub. A Provincial grant made this league possible, providing funding for Boys & Girls Club staff, giveaways for participants and free transportation from various points in the city.

The league runs from October to June. The league offers a different sport each Thursday from October to December. Each of these nights will focus on fundamentals, rules and non-competitive games. Following the school holiday break, the league will resume with two dedicated competitive leagues, each of a sport deemed to be most wanted by the participating youth. A third league, still featuring a variety of sports, will consist of fun and non-competitive games.

Direct transportation is provided in the north end of Kingston at KCHC and other locations, as well as at Holy Cross, Bayridge and Frontenac in the west end.

Youth do not have to be a member of the Boys and Girls Club to participate. Youth who are not members, or are currently not involved in organized sports, are especially encouraged to join.

Members of the Kingston Police will be present each night to participate with youth in a fun and interactive forum. The league has been developed to build personal relationships between youth and officers and build strong community bonds between Kingston Police and its community.
Intersections

Intersections is an evidence–informed early intervention program for children and youth who are at-risk of becoming justice-involved and/or their families. These children/youth and/or families/caregiver(s) often come into contact with police because of situations related to mental health issues or illnesses, childhood and youth developmental issues and/or substance use issues. In order to reduce and prevent further interaction with police services and the justice system, this program helps children/youth and/or their families/caregiver(s) to access available support services within the community.

The Intersections program is being hosted by Youth Diversion, which is a charitable organization and funded by the United Way.

TEDx Talks

Constable Josh Conner served as the Kingston Police Youth Officer from 2015-2017, and in February 2018 he was one of the few chosen to speak at the TEDxQueensU event. Officer Conner spoke about his time working with youth while serving 3 years as the Kingston Police Youth Officer. He also discussed the perception of police and the different roles they police play within the community.

His talk, “My community needed a youth officer, not a TV cop” is available on YouTube.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or fewer) delivered by today's leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED's annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, and made available, free, on TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Monica Lewinsky, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from thousands of volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed; the annual million-dollar TED Prize, which funds exceptional individuals with a "wish," or idea, to create change in the world; TEDx, which provides licenses to thousands of individuals and groups who host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Professional Standards Unit

Our Professional Standards Unit performs several roles in ensuring members of the Kingston Police carry out their duties in compliance with the Ontario Police Services Act (PSA) and associated regulations, as well as Kingston Police policies and procedures.

Roles and responsibilities

In this plain-clothes investigative unit, a staff sergeant and sergeant work under the guidance of an inspector to:

  • coordinate and investigate complaints referred by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD); these investigations are undertaken with the oversight of the OIPRD;
  • conduct internal investigations as directed by the chief of police;
  • complete administrative reviews in relation to any incident for which the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been notified, as mandated under section 11 of Ontario Regulation 267/10 under the PSA;
  • oversee disciplinary processes within the police service and assist with performance management as required;
  • provide input on related issues, such as professionalism and ethics training and policy changes; and
  • reinforce successful performance.

 

Picture of Kingston Police employee speaking on the phone

 

Compliments and Complaints

We welcome feedback from our community in regard to the policies of, or services provided by the Kingston Police, or the conduct of any of our members. Please see our Compliments and Complaints page for your options.