Latest news with #StThomasPoliceService
CTV News
30-06-2025
- CTV News
Snapchat safety tips: STPS
The Snapchat login screen on a smartphone arranged in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Photographer: Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg The St. Thomas Police Service is offering up some safety tips for Snapchat as summer break kicks off. If you're a parent to teens, the STPS would like you to understand what Snapchat is and the risks associated with it. What makes it risky? Location sharing: Through Snapchat's 'Snap Maps', the user's location is shown to friends, and potentially strangers, in real time. Through Snapchat's 'Snap Maps', the user's location is shown to friends, and potentially strangers, in real time. Fake profiles: Some predators use Snapchat to make fake profiles and gain trust from users before asking for personal information, photos, or in-person meetings. Some predators use Snapchat to make fake profiles and gain trust from users before asking for personal information, photos, or in-person meetings. Content leaks: Although the app is known for its disappearing messages, these can still be saved through screenshots or screen recordings and shared without permission. Although the app is known for its disappearing messages, these can still be saved through screenshots or screen recordings and shared without permission. Camera and photo access: The app needs permission to use the camera and photo app, which can be risky in the event privacy settings aren't strict enough. Police are offering the following tips to keep your children safe on the app:
CTV News
14-06-2025
- CTV News
Bikes stolen from St. Thomas high school and library: STPS
The St. Thomas Police Service is investigating bike thefts from a local high school and the library. On Friday afternoon, officers said an e-bike was taken. They reported an unknown man went to the school on a pedal bike, cutting the lock off an e-bike and riding away. The other bike was left behind and seized by police. A picture from the surveillance video of the incident is attached. On the same day, the STPS was contacted with a bike theft from the St. Thomas Library. The victim had left their 26-inch black 'Tech' bike outside the building, coming back to find it stolen. Surveillance videos of this incident have been requested by police as the investigation continues. Anyone with information of either incident is asked to contact the STPS or Crime Stoppers.
CTV News
12-06-2025
- CTV News
St. Thomas police exceed 10k calls for service in 2025
Just before 9 a.m. Thursday morning, the St. Thomas Police Service (STPS) has exceeded 10,000 calls for service this year. They reached this milestone two days earlier than in 2024, and over two weeks earlier than in 2022. 'The St. Thomas Police Service remains committed to the safety and well being of our community as we respond to the increase in calls for service,' a statement from the police service read.
CBC
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Local police services have different plans as province pushes return of cops to schools
As the Ontario government moves to bring police officers back into schools, two local police services share different reactions to the news. While the St. Thomas Police Service (STPS) is on board with the idea of bringing back School Resource Officer (SRO) programs, the London Police Service (LPS) expressed less interest. Nonetheless, both police services said officer engagement with students is an important priority. "I think that this is the right step forward," said Marc Roskamp, the St. Thomas chief of police. "[The new bill] would allow police officers back into the schools and the traditional school resource officer program." Roskamp's endorsement follows closely behind Education Minister Paul Calandra's announcement of the Supporting Children and Students Act, which aims to consolidate ministry oversight over school boards and requires the return of SRO programs if local police offer them. In 2021, the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), the largest in the region, paused its SRO program and, in 2024, resolved not to re-initiate it due to concerns from students over surveillance and feelings of unease. The STPS has been vocal in its dissatisfaction with removing SROs and has also reported an uptick in officers being called to schools. Following a firearm scare at a school in January, Roskamp told reporters those incidents have risen by 55 per cent since 2021, with officers now attending schools once every two days. In his eyes, the police are a clear part of the solution to the problem. "Presence is deterrence," Roskamp said. "Whether expected or unexpected, visits to schools might reduce those incidents of violence, and what we're talking about is assaults, sexual assaults, bullying, it's all happening." That's not to imply deterrence is the only goal of officers in schools, he added. "When we're in the schools, it's never been about enforcement or intelligence gathering. It's always been about high fives and smiles and interacting and engaging with youth." Roskamp said his police service is engaged with local school boards and is working to "re-establish, refresh and reimagine the role of the school resource officer." London Police's response to the question of whether they would offer an SRO program to the board included an effort to distance the force from official SRO programs. "We have moved away from the title 'School Resource Officer' and instead focus on broader community engagement," said Peter Testa, head of the LPS community mobilization and support branch. Testa said the LPS has worked closely with school boards in the city to support students, with the goal of promoting positive behaviour and enhancing safety through "mutual respect." He also said the LPS supports boards without the use of an SRO program "by having our officers attending and presenting when requests are made." Regardless of the intentions as stated by police, some students remain opposed to police presence in schools in general. One of those students is Shivani Vimal, who is in grade 11 at the TVDSB's Lord Dorchester Secondary School. "I firmly believe that police officers do not belong in schools. I believe there's a time and place for security personnel, but schools are spaces for learning, growth and trust, and that's just not the place for police officers," she said. A common thread in opposition to officers in schools, especially as stated in the past by previous TVDSB student trustees, is a concern that students from marginalized communities could be made doubly uncomfortable by police presence. "I just feel that it would harm BIPOC students, and it would impact them a lot more than people think," Vimal said. Vimal said the opinions of her peers seem to be divided. However, the prevailing thought is that students "don't want to feel like they're being watched. And they also believe that police officers in schools might just escalate situations." She said she'd rather see funding for social workers and counsellors as a solution, but if the police do return, the process needs to be student-centric and collaborative.
