Latest news with #DerekDavis
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
AI hotline launched in Sarnia as response to homelessness concerns
A Sarnia police cruiser is seen on Friday, June 28, 2013. (Bryan Bicknell / CTV London) As an effort to respond to homelessness concerns, an AI-driven hotline has been launched in Sarnia. Sarnia Police and the city of Sarnia bylaw team launched the hotline on July 17 to allow the community to report on issues about homelessness. Issues include encampments, social disorder and other disruptive behaviours and checking on someone's well-being. To use the hotline, call 519-346-HOME. Once a report is received, it'll be assigned to the appropriate response team. The hotline is only for non-urgent matters and doesn't replace 9-1-1 emergencies. Homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges aren't crimes, but Chief Derek Davis says open drug use, indecent acts, theft and violence are detrimental to the community's safety. 'These crimes victimize residents, disrupt our small businesses, and interfere with the peace and enjoyment of our neighbourhoods,' Davis said in a statement. Officers will distribute business cards will hotline contact information. 072025 - homelessness Sarnia Business cards handed out by officers for new AI-driven hotline. (Source: Sarnia Police)
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Sarnia police launch new AI-powered homelessness hotline
The Sarnia Police Service has partnered with the city on a new hotline, answered by an AI attendant, to deal with calls related to homelessness. The attendant is programmed to direct calls to the appropriate department or service to deal with the caller's concern, said police Chief Derek Davis. The goal is to create a single point of contact that will direct people to the city's bylaw department, the police department or service providers that serve the unhoused community, depending on what's appropriate, Davis said. Right now, he said, people often send multiple emails to multiple people. "A person … can send an email to a city councillor who sends it to the chief of police who then sends it to the communication centre," he said, "so we've got a lot of intake from multi-sources." Many Sarnia residents were outraged last year when unhoused people set up an encampment in Rainbow Park. They vented their anger at Davis in a public meeting in September, complaining about open drug use, needles in school yards and people defecating in public spaces. The city dismantled the encampment in February of this year, but the individuals who had been living there are now dispersed across town, Davis said. A single place to report concerns Ontario courts have ruled that unhoused people have a right to camp on municipal property if there is no adequate and accessible alternative shelter in the city. Davis couldn't say whether the complaints the city and police service have been receiving from residents involve illegal activity. "It could be either or," he said. "I think the reality of what we're trying to solve is people have questions or concerns. "They need a single place to report them, and then we'll investigate whatever those circumstances are. It's not a guaranteed outcome of any type of response. It may be no response" AI, he said, is "not fantastic" but it's a cost-effective way to offer the service 24/7, costing in the $20,000 to $30,000 range, approximately one third the price of a staff member. "It's a computer. We expect it to not be perfect." he said. "This is for non-emergency calls, so the risk is actually low in that regard. If it doesn't work, the non-emergency lines are still there and, all the other agency lines are still available, but we're hoping this does alleviate some of the frustration from our community on some level." Davis said he expects officials to evaluate the services in the late fall or toward the end of the year to decide if they will continue it. The manager at River City Vineyard Christian Fellowship, which runs a shelter open to individuals who are not using drugs, said she believes the new phone line is "a good idea." Audrey Kelway hopes residents will use it respectfully, she said. But Kelway said the city needs more than a phone line to help solve homelessness. "I wish that there was something more to help people get off of drugs," she said. "I wish there was more [of a] rehab-type thing. ... Because, you know, a lot of people that are struggling with drug addiction, they don't want to be there."
CBC
5 days ago
- CBC
Sarnia police launch new AI-powered homelessness hotline
The Sarnia Police Service has partnered with the city on a new hotline, answered by an AI attendant, to deal with calls related to homelessness. The attendant is programmed to direct calls to the appropriate department or service to deal with the caller's concern, said police Chief Derek Davis. The goal is to create a single point of contact that will direct people to the city's bylaw department, the police department or service providers that serve the unhoused community, depending on what's appropriate, Davis said. Right now, he said, people often send multiple emails to multiple people. "A person … can send an email to a city councillor who sends it to the chief of police who then sends it to the communication centre," he said, "so we've got a lot of intake from multi-sources." Many Sarnia residents were outraged last year when unhoused people set up an encampment in Rainbow Park. They vented their anger at Davis in a public meeting in September, complaining about open drug use, needles in school yards and people defecating in public spaces. The city dismantled the encampment in February of this year, but the individuals who had been living there are now dispersed across town, Davis said. A single place to report concerns Ontario courts have ruled that unhoused people have a right to camp on municipal property if there is no adequate and accessible alternative shelter in the city. Davis couldn't say whether the complaints the city and police service have been receiving from residents involve illegal activity. "It could be either or," he said. "I think the reality of what we're trying to solve is people have questions or concerns. "They need a single place to report them, and then we'll investigate whatever those circumstances are. It's not a guaranteed outcome of any type of response. It may be no response" AI, he said, is "not fantastic" but it's a cost-effective way to offer the service 24/7, costing in the $20,000 to $30,000 range, approximately one third the price of a staff member. "It's a computer. We expect it to not be perfect." he said. "This is for non-emergency calls, so the risk is actually low in that regard. If it doesn't work, the non-emergency lines are still there and, all the other agency lines are still available, but we're hoping this does alleviate some of the frustration from our community on some level." Davis said he expects officials to evaluate the services in the late fall or toward the end of the year to decide if they will continue it. The manager at River City Vineyard Christian Fellowship, which runs a shelter open to individuals who are not using drugs, said she believes the new phone line is "a good idea." Audrey Kelway hopes residents will use it respectfully, she said. But Kelway said the city needs more than a phone line to help solve homelessness. "I wish that there was something more to help people get off of drugs," she said. "I wish there was more [of a] rehab-type thing. ... Because, you know, a lot of people that are struggling with drug addiction, they don't want to be there."
CTV News
02-07-2025
- CTV News
13 arrests made in one day Sarnia police enforcement sweep
Sarnia Police Service building in Sarnia, Ont. as seen on July 2, 2025. (Reta Ismail/CTV News London) The Sarnia Police Service has made three arrests following a one-day long enforcement sweep in the city. On Monday, plain clothes investigators, uniformed officers, and special constables hit the streets, successfully making arrests for observed open drug use, outstanding warrants in Sarnia and elsewhere, and a drug trafficking arrest. One day sarnia enforcement July 2025 Source: Sarnia Police Service. 'The SPS is taking assertive action to directly address the quality-of-life concerns and criminal behaviours in troubled areas of our city,' said Chief Derek Davis of the SPS. 'We know that a small percentage of individuals are responsible for causing a disproportionate amount of those issues, often correlated with drug abuse.' Here's a full breakdown: Five arrests made for possession of a controlled substance. 48-year-old man of London arrested on a Canada-wide warrant for being unlawfully at large and breaching parole. 51-year-old man of no fixed address arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking. 10 grams of fentanyl and 20 hydromorphone tablets were seized. The man is charged with possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, possession of hydromorphone for the purpose of trafficking, and two counts of failure to comply with a release order. One day sarnia enforcement July 2025 Source: Sarnia Police Service. A 36-year-old woman and a 49-year-old man, both of no fixed address, were arrested for outstanding warrants for break-and-enter and mischief under $5,000. A 33-year-old of no fixed address was arrested on an outstanding unendorsed warrant for theft under $5,000 dating back to October 2023. A 21-year-old Chatham individual was arrested on an outstanding warrant for robbery and several firearms offences. They were also wanted by Chatham-Kent police for break-and-enter, mischief, and failure to comply with a release order. 50-year-old of no fixed address arrested on an outstanding warrant by OPP for mischief under $5,000 and eight counts of failure to comply with a probation order. One day sarnia enforcement July 2025 Source: Sarnia Police Service. 'Homelessness and addictions are not crimes, and enforcement is not the solution to social issues,' continued Davis. 'However, when others are victimized by crime, and the community can no longer enjoy its own public spaces, enforcement becomes necessary. We intend to pursue more of these initiatives as time and resources permit. Excellent work by our officers and support staff in this highly successful one-day project.'
CTV News
15-06-2025
- CTV News
Man arrested in $6,500 theft, merchandise recovered
A man has been arrested after a theft worth more than $6,500 in Sarnia. On Saturday around 4:30 p.m., police were called to the incident at a Northgate store in the 500 block of Exmouth Street. Police were told the suspect was wearing a facemask and had stolen gift cards and medical supplies before driving away northbound on Colborne Road. The vehicle was quickly found and stopped on Indian Road. The driver, who was the only person in the vehicle, was arrested. A seizure resulted in a big quantity of razor blades, gift cards, gum, and other items. Police said electronic devices with the purpose of bypassing store security systems were also found. As the investigation continued, police learn the suspect was on release from similar crimes in Halton and Toronto. The release said the man was prohibited from going to specific retail stores and that was violated in the Sarnia incident. It was also discovered that a similar theft took place earlier in the day in Brights Grove, but it wasn't reported to police. A 41-year-old Richmond Hill man is facing charges for theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, disguise with intent, and two counts of failure to comply with a release order. 'We are increasingly seeing organized retail theft targeting our local businesses,' said Chief Derek Davis of the Sarnia Police Service. 'These individuals often target specific items that are in turn re-sold through unscrupulous businesses or on the street. Immediate reporting, coupled with a quick and coordinated response by SPS patrol officers resulted in an arrest and the recovery of the stolen property.'
