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There was a time, in the not so distant past that Ottawa police were bogged down responding to too-loud stereos or barking dogs.
Cleary an incredible waste of the force?s resources.
All of that has changed of course, as has so much else with the police force over the years.
?There?s been a real evolution of policing,? said Chief Chuck Bordeleau in an editorial board meeting with the Sun on Wednesday.
Bordeleau is referring to far more serious issues than just the yapping canines.
Like other police forces across North America, Ottawa?s police force is being forced to do more with less.
And that has lead to innovative measures, sometimes teaming up with other agencies to provide better service to the community ? along with easing the demand on the police workforce.
But grappling with the budget numbers is but one element of changes.
Societal pressures are demanding the police adapt to the changing world around.
One of those areas on the rise is elder abuse, perhaps not surprisingly given the growing senior population.
Not surprising but horrific nonetheless.
Senior abuse isn?t new of course, but again, more seniors means increased demand in that area.
About two years ago, the force set up a seniors? abuse section, and how sad is it that it?s needed?
?Our seniors abuse section, they?re out there, dealing with a number of issues. And yes, it is challenging, quite disturbing. It can be their family members, abusing them mentally, physically. It?s challenging. Maybe it?s their caregivers, those in the heath care sector,? Bordeleau explained.
Of course, hand in hand with the aging population is an increase in the cases of Alzheimer?s.
And that comes with its own set of problems which also affect the demand on police.
?Yes, we?ll be facing those challenges as well as we move forward. Changing demographics often means changing crime patterns and that?s certainly something on our radar screen,? he said.
While Alzheimer?s might seem like something that wouldn?t involve police, the disease sometimes leads to crime.
And that has to be something the police are cognizant of.
Education, working with seniors? home, with those who have responsibility for seniors, is all part of the game plan.
Dealing with increased mental health issues is also a new and emerging challenge among youth.
With public awareness on the rise for mental health ?There?s been a lot more calls of service with mental health in crisis,? he said.
Bordeleau referred to the suicides of Jamie Hubley and Daron Richardson, two high profile cases in the Ottawa area, that have helped raise awareness and hopefully acceptance of teen depression.
?There?s been a lot of work being done. Yes, there?s still a significant gap, but there are more services. The Youth Services Bureau has increased their walk-in clinics, for example,? he said.
Society is also changing how Bordeleau and the police reach out to the community.
There?s no longer the same reliance on the media to get their message out.
Today, Bordeleau is just as likely attend an editorial board as he is to host a twitter chat or offer up ideas for a police YouTube video.
?It allows us to increase community engagement, and it seems we?re having some success. It?s another way to share our stories, to speak directly to the community,? he said.
While much has changed, one thing remains the same for police ? the end goal is to keep the community feeling safe and being safe.
?Trust goes up and down. It?s a very fragile thing. We always have to continue working on it. It?s always something that will be a work in progress.?
susan.sherring@sunmedia.ca
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