Kingston Police and Community Partners Advance Coordinated Response to Public Safety and Community Wellbeing

Kingston Police, in collaboration with Addiction & Mental Health Services - KFLA (AMHS-KFLA) and the City of Kingston, is advancing a coordinated approach to public safety associated with open-air drug use, substance use and related community concerns.

The approach recognizes that these complex circumstances cannot be addressed through enforcement alone. It brings together proactive policing, targeted enforcement, community engagement and connections to health, housing, addiction and mental health services. The objective is to improve safety in public spaces while supporting individuals experiencing addiction, mental health challenges, homelessness and other vulnerabilities.

Throughout the summer, Kingston Police conducted dedicated deployments in areas experiencing higher concentrations of calls for service related to substance use, social disorder and overdose risk. Officers responded to complex situations and connected individuals with appropriate supports whenever possible.

“Public safety and compassion are not competing objectives. A coordinated response requires us to address criminal activity and behaviours that create risk, while also recognizing when individuals need access to appropriate services and support. Our officers have worked with community partners to strike that balance and contribute to safer public spaces for everyone.”

Chief Adam MacIntosh, Kingston Police

A Balanced and Coordinated Approach

The summer initiative combined visible police presence and appropriate enforcement with proactive engagement and referrals to community services.

Officers focused on:

• Conducting high-visibility patrols to support public safety and community wellbeing;

• Responding to criminal activity and behaviours that presented risks to individuals or the broader community;

• Proactively engaging with individuals who might require assistance or support;

• Connecting individuals with available health, housing, addiction and mental health services; and

• Removing abandoned drugs, drug paraphernalia and other hazardous materials from public spaces.

This approach allowed officers and community partners to address immediate safety concerns while developing a better understanding of the circumstances and service needs affecting the areas in which the deployments occurred.

Summer Initiative Results

Between May 29 and August 31, Kingston Police conducted six high-enforcement deployment days and 34 dedicated paid-duty patrols, resulting in a total of 240 operational hours over 40 shifts within the downtown corridor.

Key outcomes included:

•      133 total arrests, including:

o   110 arrests related to open-air drug use

o   23 arrests for other offences, including warrants and provincial offences

•           26 referrals to Street Outreach and 5 to Crisis Addiction & Mental Health Services - KFLA (AMHS- KFLA)
•      229 proactive interactions where individuals were directed away from areas where their behaviour was contributing to public safety concerns or affecting businesses and residents
•      Removal of drugs, drug paraphernalia and other hazardous materials from public spaces
  
  These results demonstrate the range of activity involved in the initiative and will help Kingston Police and its partners evaluate what has been effective, identify service gaps and inform the next phase of this work.

“People experiencing homelessness, mental health or substance use challenges need meaningful connections to the supports available to them.  By working together with Kingston Police and other partners, we can each bring our unique expertise to the table, build trust and connect people to services. We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this initiative to support a compassionate approach to individual well-being and stronger communities.”

 Betty Jo Dean, CEO, AMHS-KFLA

Next Phase: Coordinated Patrols in Belle Park

Building on the summer initiative, Kingston Police and the City of Kingston will introduce the next phase of this coordinated work beginning in October.

Dedicated patrols will provide an increased and proactive policing presence in Belle Park and the surrounding area. These patrols will complement the City’s ongoing work and support a broader, coordinated response involving police, municipal staff, outreach organizations and other community partners.

The patrols will focus on:

• Reducing the exploitation of vulnerable and marginalized individuals;

• Enhancing safety for individuals using or working in the area;

• Deterring criminal activity;

• Responding to behaviours that create public safety risks;

• Supporting the work of City staff and community organizations; and

• Connecting individuals with appropriate services and resources whenever possible.

"Improving public safety and supporting vulnerable individuals takes a coordinated, cross-agency approach. We're happy to work alongside our valued partners so we can better connect more people to services that meet their needs, respond proactively to concerns in and around Belle Park, and create coordinated solutions that improve public safety for everyone."
 Lanie Hurdle, CAO, City of Kingston

The next phase is not based on enforcement alone. It is intended to provide a consistent and proactive public safety presence while strengthening the coordinated efforts of police, municipal staff, health and social-service providers, and community organizations.

Kingston Police, the City of Kingston and AMHS-KFLA will continue working collaboratively to improve public safety, support individuals experiencing complex challenges and identify sustainable responses to the circumstances affecting public spaces in Kingston.

This release has been developed in collaboration with
The City of Kingston and AMHS-KFLA.

About the City of Kingston

Kingston's vision of being a smart, livable and leading city is fast becoming reality. History and innovation thrive in our dynamic city located along the beautiful shores of Lake Ontario, an easy travel distance from Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, in the heart of eastern Ontario. With a stable and diversified economy that includes global corporations, innovative startups and all levels of government, Kingston's high quality of life offers access to world-class education and research institutions, advanced healthcare facilities, affordable living and vibrant entertainment and tourism activities.

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Questions or media inquiries regarding the City of Kingston’s involvement should be directed to the City of Kingston Communications Office: communications@cityofkingston.ca.

About AMHS-KFLA

AMHS-KFLA is a non-profit organization that delivers community-based mental health, addiction and housing services to over 7,000 individuals each year in the City of Kingston and the counties of Frontenac and Lennox and Addington. Services are free and available to those 16+. Quality services are provided with dignity, hope and in confidence. For more information, visit www.amhs-kfla.ca or call 1-888-488-6697. AMHS-KFLA 24-Hour Crisis Lines:  Kingston & Frontenac: 613-544-4229 | Lennox & Addington: 613-354-7388.