YOUTH, DRUGS TOP POLICE SURVEY CONCERNS

COLLINGWOOD - Collingwood OPP officials weren't caught
off guard by any of the information gleaned from a telephone survey on
police services, but knowing what the public is thinking is as
important as guns and ammo.

"(The results) didn't really surprise us -- it's what we anticipated,"
said Acting Staff Sgt. John Trude.

"We tend to have a pretty good idea what's going on most of the time,"
he added.

The survey was answered by 376 random residents, asking a wide range
of questions relating to safety issues to perceptions of violent crime
in Collingwood. It was conducted from December 2002 to March 2003 by
auxiliary officers and volunteers.

"We like to keep an arm's length distance with (who conducts the
survey)," Trude said. "It's a pretty good tool... because a lot of
people might say they didn't call the police because they didn't want
to bother us."

Some residents don't want to be bothersome of nuisances to the police
force, said Trude, "but (those calls) may go a long way towards
achieving our goal. These are the nuts-and-bolts, day-to-day
happenings in our community."

The poll gathered opinion on police issues, and rated OPP services.
According to the executive summary, respondents "felt very good" about
the community and how people get along with each other.

The majority of respondents said the service was satisfactory or
better.

However, responses can go both ways -- good or bad -- and that's to be
expected.

"If we are told we're doing something right, that's nice to hear; but
if there are things we can do better, we'll also take that into
account," said Trude. "Constructive criticism is how we get better."

Most respondents have a positive attitude of their neighbourhood.
About 94 per cent said they're are willing to help their neighbours,
while 66 per cent said their community was "close-knit."

Some of the youth-related problems included young people congregating
on downtown streets, skateboarding on sidewalks, school violence, and
youth gangs.

Trude said gangs aren't problematic in Collingwood compared to the
Middle East or a rough Toronto enclave, "but perception is reality. It
all has to be put into perspective."

For example, earlier this summer many citizens complained about people
taking up all of the benches on Hurontario Street. That issue could've
been addressed many ways, but the OPP chose to take a proactive approach.

"It's all about making police officers available in the community,"
Trude said.

That's why the OPP shifted some of its focus to increasing
accessibility. Programs to achieve that goal included trotting out the
horse-mounted unit, opening the downtown office, and increasing both
bicycle and foot patrols.

"An officer on a bike is 10 times as effective as an officer in a
car," said Trude. "But we have to balance accessibility with
responding to calls for service."

The downtown office was so well-received that it will stay operational
year-round.

The police services board will review the survey report at its next
meeting, and will also use it to develop the 2004 business plan.

The results will also be analyzed by the Collingwood Police Services
Board (CPSB), which meets monthly. The board's next meeting is in late
September. CPSB implements general policy in Collingwood, and is
municipality-specific.

"Each municipality is unique," said Trude. "We want the public to be
more involved, then we are more reflective of our community."

The bottom line is to avoid complacency, he said.

The Community Policing Advisory Committee (CPAC), made up of of local
citizens, will also view at the survey results. CPAC is a grass-roots,
hands-on committee.