Letter to the Editor Sent to Journal Pioneer

Dear Editor,

I generally do not respond to public criticism of the City of Summerside but after reading council candidate Jeannie Cameron state in your paper on October 26th, “It seems council does not want to address how serious the crime issue is in our city”, I felt a need to remind her that the City initiated a strategic approach, not an ad-hoc approach, to crime prevention. The approach taken was a volunteer committee was appointed comprised of representatives from anti-poverty groups, justice and corrections, education, addictions and youth service organizations. These volunteers consulted with stakeholders and the general public. With assistance of researchers from the Attorney General’s office, this citizen centered committee developed a comprehensive report, based on actual facts and research, on how best to address growing concerns about crime and public safety. As research into crime prevention and healthy communities suggests it is of the utmost importance to take a multi-faceted approach to community safety (policing, recreation, social services, housing, education, etc)

Following this response to Candidate Cameron is an excerpt from the 2010 Summerside Community Safety Audit and Planning Report which was provided to City Council on January 25th 2010 and has been available on the home page of the City website since February of this year.

The report, which was put together by an Advisory Committee comprised of Rev. Andrew Richardson (Chair), Police Chief Dave Poirer, East Prince Women’s Information Centre Manager Andy Lou Somers and several community leaders addressed a wide range of community safety and crime prevention concerns and established Summerside as the first Island community to undertake such a thorough review and plan.

This plan is currently being executed and has already addressed many of the concerns that Candidate Cameron raises.

Specifically:
•Cameron notes that ‘It seems council does not want to address how serious the crime issue is in our city.’
a.By gathering community leaders, stakeholders and inviting public input, and establishing the Summerside Community Safety Committee it is obvious that the City of Summerside does take crime seriously. The Community Safety Committee has held sessions with stakeholders and groups regarding concerns and those are included in our report. The committee continues to develop initiatives and workshops related to crime prevention and community safety and Council supports them in their efforts
b. We will continue to lobby other levels of government for tougher laws to better enable our police to protect you and your families
c.As Chair of Police, I have lobbied and will continue to lobby the Province for Safer Communities Legislation which will provide for Police more tools for enforcement in keeping our community safer
d.By establishing and carrying out a number of initiatives to prevent and deal with crime, it is apparent that Community Safety is a priority for the City of Summerside. Neighbourhood Watches are currently being organized as well as an engraving your valuables program has been initiated
e.Council continues to support City youth by investing in Boys and Girls Club and Generation XX to provide valuable programming for children.
f.Reviews of allocation of user fees at Credit Union Place- Fees are frozen and there is currently a review of our fee structure being undertaken. I will be bringing to the floor of the new council a leisure service review which if approved, will provide us more details in what exact programs and services are missing in Summerside for our youth and children.
g.A City employee has been appointed to coordinate crime prevention within the community and the various City Departments
h.Council has continued to approve investment in equipment and vehicles to better enable our police to do their jobs.
i.Council and community volunteers continue to lobby for better access to addictions services in Summerside
j.We will continue to work closely with all community groups and the PEI Homelessness Initiative to ensure we are taking a holistic approach to crime prevention.

Is there more we can do? Absolutely there is but I think this is a start. It is important to have strategies as band-aids only stop the bleeding temporarily. We will continue to work with the stakeholders, community and government partners in a strategic manner.


Cory Thomas
Chair, City of Summerside Police Services
Councillor, Ward 8 Wilmot