Latest news with #RichJohnston
CTV News
19 hours ago
- CTV News
Barrie police boost downtown presence, making significant impact in first month
Barrie Police Services City Guardians stopped by the library to say hello during a Moana-themed event on July 9, 2025. The Barrie Police Service launched an enhanced downtown presence focused on the streets, waterfront, trails, beaches and parks, and the enforcement boost resulted in drug seizures and more than two dozen arrests in one month. The initiative kicked off on June 16, and according to the police service, the Downtown Engagement Team responded to 508 events between then and July 15. Of these, police say 451 were proactively detected by the team, while 57 resulted from calls for service. The team made 31 arrests, seized drugs 15 times, and confiscated alcohol 17 times. Two criminal charges were laid. Police Chief Rich Johnston emphasized that the team's goal is not solely to enforce laws, but to support those in need. 'Most of the occurrences this team is involved with are the result of factors related to social disorder, and the constables and special constables who are present in the downtown are working with our community to help facilitate access to support services,' he said. City Guardians BPS Police Chief Rich Johnston and Deputy Chief Rob Burke joined the City Guardian team in downtown Barrie, Ont. on July 7, 2025. A key component of the initiative is the newly introduced City Guardian Program. The service says special constables make regular rounds at downtown buildings, including City Hall, the Barrie Public Library Downtown Branch, Meridian Place, and the Bus Terminal. During the first month, they logged 445 occurrences, spending an average of nine minutes at each location. 'Not only were they visiting and spending time at each of the locations on their route, but they engaged with everyone they met along the way – sometimes with a quick hello, other times stopping to do a well-being check,' the chief added.
CTV News
04-07-2025
- CTV News
Barrie police shut down illegal magic mushroom shops on Dunlop Street
Police shut down two illegal psilocybin shops operating on Dunlop Street in Barrie, Ont. Police in Barrie say they shut down two illegal storefronts openly selling psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, in two days. On Friday, police say members of the Barrie Police Service Drug Unit executed a search warrant at a shop on Dunlop Street, seizing a variety of illegal products and laying several drug-related charges. The day before, police say they attended another psilocybin location on the same street as the locks were changed and signage removed. Police say officers were there to ensure the illegal business had effectively closed. Barrie police say they are working with the City and both provincial and federal authorities to remove illegal psilocybin shops from the community. Magic mushrooms, which contain the hallucinogenic substance psilocybin, are currently illegal to sell or possess in Canada outside of specific medical or research contexts. 'We recognize that the community is concerned with the implications of these storefronts, and the Barrie Police Service is committed to ensuring that our downtown core remains a safe and welcoming place for all members of our community,' stated Police Chief Rich Johnston. Police say when these stores open, they immediately begin the process of investigating, seizing illegal substances, and laying charges. They also warned that property owners who rent space to illegal businesses could face legal consequences, including criminal charges. 'With the support of the Barrie Police Service Board, and the City, we have made it a priority to close down these shops, and work towards eradicating them from our community,' Johnston added.
CTV News
29-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Barrie police now using tool to track offenders on bail for gun crimes
The Barrie Police Service (BPS) has adopted a new tool aimed at improving public safety by keeping a closer watch on people out on bail for gun-related offences. The service has joined other police services across Ontario in using the Provincial Bail Compliance Dashboard (PBCD), a database developed and managed by the Ontario Provincial Police. The dashboard provides officers with up-to-date information about individuals who have been released on bail for firearms-related offences. Police say the system improves how officers track and monitor bail compliance. It also allows different police services to share information more easily. 'This dashboard will provide invaluable information about high-harm individuals residing in our city,' said Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston. 'We will use any and all tools at our disposal to better serve our community and reduce harm from recidivism.' The PBCD is part of a broader effort to strengthen bail enforcement and protect both the public and frontline officers. Officers using the dashboard can quickly access details about an offender's release conditions, past charges, and whether they are following court-ordered restrictions. Local authorities have been using another data-driven approach since 2021 known as the Canadian Crime Harm Index, which assigns a 'harm score' to various offences. 'By allocating a harm score to the most serious offences and offenders, the Barrie Police Service is able to better track the individuals causing the most harm in our community,' the Barrie service added. 'In Barrie, our data shows that in 2024, 1.4 per cent of offenders cause 20 per cent of the harm in our community, and research references this level of concentration of criminality in a population as the 'power few',' BPS noted. The dashboard is available to all police services in Ontario and is part of a growing, province-wide strategy to improve bail compliance and reduce repeat offences.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Barrie police opt for technology and scrap pen and paper to improve service
Residents in Barrie may notice police officers using their cell phones at incident scenes, but they're not checking out the latest trends on social media, they're utilizing technology to be more efficient. "As a service focused on innovation to support community safety, the Barrie Police Service is committed to seeking out technology that can support our officers and improve our service to the public," the service noted. The service recently implemented electronic note-taking on police-issued cell phones to allow officers to take voice notes rather than writing out details on small notebooks and scanning or photocopying them to be recorded. 'E-notes are quicker, more accessible and more sustainable,' the service noted. The move to scrap the old pen and paper method makes the Barrie service one of the first in the province to shift to e-notes. 'As technology continues to play a significant role in assisting our investigations, we are taking advantage of this innovative opportunity to allow our officers the ability to focus on the community when they are responding to calls, without the need to spend significant time taking hand-written notes,' said Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston. The technology was rolled out as a pilot project and is now being used by frontline patrol officers, the traffic unit and specialized investigative units.
