“Building bridges.”
That’s the message the local OPP is sending out to Fort Frances High School students–and their parents–as it steps up staffing at its liaison office there.
“We’re trying to break down the walls between the officers and the students,” said Cst. Al MacDonald, who’s in charge of the liaison initiative at Fort High.
While the police have had a liaison office at the high school for a number of years, Cst. MacDonald noted the renewed focus is on constant staffing.
“It’s progressed to having an officer per shift there for the students. Unless they get a call they have to respond to, he or she will be available,” he said.
The grand opening of the liaison office is slated to coincide with parent-teacher interview night (March 21), after which time Cst. MacDonald hoped to get some signage to let students know when officers were in the office.
“We want to have an open-door policy. If they have a concern, they can talk to us. If they want to know about career development, we can talk,” he remarked.
Along with Cst. MacDonald, other officers spending time at the office will be Csts. Amanda Carruthers, William MacIntyre, John Williams, and Caroline Spencer.
Cst. Cameron Howard noted the intensified effort to build student-police relations stemmed from the daily visits police have been paying to the new high school since last year.
“It goes beyond being seen as the heavy hand. We’re not just there when something goes wrong,” he stressed.
“Since our frequent visits, police officers already are being better accepted,” added Cst. MacDonald.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
