Latest news with #communityTrust
CTV News
03-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Ex-teacher turned cop connects with Sault students in liaison role
As the 2024–25 school year concluded, Const. Lyndsey Pilkington of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service reflected on her inaugural year as the city's High School Liaison Officer – a role revitalized last fall through a renewed partnership between local police and school boards. Pilkington, a former teacher turned nine-year police veteran, has spent the past eight months bridging gaps between youth, educators, and law enforcement, emphasizing trust and community over enforcement. A role reborn: From classroom to hallways Pilkington's appointment in November 2024 marked the return of a full-time liaison officer to Sault Ste. Marie's schools after the program had been halted prior to the pandemic. The position, jointly funded by the Algoma District School Board and Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board, serves five high schools, blending crime prevention with mentorship. Pilkington talks with school boards Const. Lyndsey Pilkington's first meeting with the two Sault-area school boards that partnered with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service to restart the High School Liaison Officer program in November 2024. (Supplied/Sault Ste. Marie Police Service) 'Connecting with youth has always been a focus of mine, whether in the classroom or in uniform,' Pilkington wrote in a blog post reflecting on her first school year in the role last month. Her dual background proved pivotal: 'This opportunity was the perfect fit for me.' Breaking barriers: 'Showing up as a human first' Initial skepticism from students – a challenge Pilkington anticipated – gave way to trust through consistent engagement. 'Policing can come with preconceived notions,' she said, but transparency and casual interactions, like handing out free Frosters coupons for positive behavior, helped dismantle barriers. Operation Freeze For a school project, Gracelyn had to interview a community helper, she chose Const. Lyndsey Pilkington. As a thank you, she received a sweet treat: a coupon for a free Froster from Circle K as part of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service's Operation Freeze. (Sault Ste. Marie Police Service/Instagram) By year's end, Pilkington noted she 'exceeded even [her] own expectations' in building relationships. Highlights included mediating conflicts, celebrating graduations, and connecting students with community resources. 'It's about more than just being present,' she wrote. 'It's acting as a bridge.' Chain of Life - Sault As Students Against Impaired Driving Week came to a close on May 16, 2025, students from White Pines Collegiate & Vocational School visited Sault Police at Division 2 to take a photo with their 'Chain of Life' - a powerful visual project made up of pledges from students across local high schools and elementary schools who have committed to not driving impaired or distracted. (Supplied/Sault Ste. Marie Police Service) Community impact: Small gestures, big ripples The liaison role's success hinged on visibility. Pilkington attended school events, posed for photos, and leveraged initiatives like Circle K's 'Operation Freeze' to reward good behavior. Algoma District School Board Education Director Lucia Reece praised the program's revival when it was announced, citing 'stronger relationships between students and police.' For Pilkington, the rewards were personal: 'Watching this year's graduates cross the stage, knowing I'll meet a new group in September, reminded me why this role matters – for safety and community'. Sault elementary track meet volunteers Const. Lyndsey Pilkington stopped into observe a local elementary school track and field meet in Sault Ste. Marie in June 2025 and observed some familiar faces volunteering from the high schools she serves. (Sault Ste. Marie Police Service/Instagram) Looking ahead: A foundation for the future With summer underway, Pilkington anticipates her second year, buoyed by support from school boards and the police service, who called the partnership 'a critical step in rebuilding trust'. Pilkington - pickleball High School Liaison Officer, Const. Lyndsey Pilkington, having a great time playing pickleball with students from the Kina Awiiya Secondary Program and Prince Charles Secondary School at the Waterfront Adventure Centre in June 2025. (Sault Ste. Marie Police Service/Instagram) 'Thank you to everyone who welcomed me,' Pilkington concluded. 'I'm already looking forward to another great year.'
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
This Sussex spot has been named one of the friendliest places in the UK
Brighton and Hove has been named one of the friendliest cities in the UK. It comes after a new study from Aviva, of which a survey of more than 6,000 people found the UK to be more trusting, friendly and community-minded than some may think. Through the survey, the UK's top 10 cities for neighbourly trust and top 10 friendliest cities were revealed. Making the top 10 was Brighton and Hove. The survey by Aviva of more than 6,000 UK adults found nearly three quarters (74%) of people think their communities are friendly, while a similar number (73%) trust their neighbours. Additionally, nearly four in five (77%) UK residents also say their local community is a good place to live. York was revealed as the UK's friendliest city, while Exeter topped the list for neighbourly trust. In response to the question "my local community is friendly", 78.9% in Brighton and Hove agreed, making it the 10th friendliest city in the UK. The full list of the friendliest cities in the UK and the percentage of people who agreed their local community was friendly is as follows: York - 90.4% Exeter - 85.7% Plymouth - 84.9% Bath - 83.7% Aberdeen - 83.3% Edinburgh - 81.9% Derby - 81.3% Chelmsford 81.1% Cardiff - 79.3% Brighton and Hove - 78.9% Aviva's research shows that being part of a local community improves overall life satisfaction, with 8 in 10 (83%) of those who feel they are part of their community are satisfied with their overall quality of life, in comparison to just 45% of people who don't feel part of their community. Access to green spaces matters to everyone and is often viewed as a necessity, with 90% of respondents saying it's important for them to have access to green space in their local community, and 79% are happy with the quality of their local green spaces. The cities with the highest levels of happiness with their green spaces are Plymouth, Brighton and Hove, Edinburgh and Bath. However, Aviva's research also suggests many people do not have access to certain amenities in their local area. Nearly a third (32%) say they do not have access to pubs in their local community, while 42% say the same about libraries and 46% have no access to gyms, sports and fitness centres in their area. Aviva's research has revealed a the UK's top 10 friendliest cities (Image: PA/Aviva) Taking to Reddit previously, one user said: "Brighton is like an oasis of niceness in the UK. "Sure there are plenty of other lovely places, but I feel like Brighton is just ridiculously nice, liberal, tolerant, good food, great culture, nice beach, friendly people. "I used to live in Birmingham and it was just way more rough and ready, generally more intense, more crime, more violence etc. "Do you ever feel like you just want to bury your head in the lovely sand (stones) of Brighton and just never leave?" "It's not perfect but it is certainly more relaxed about many things more than other towns and cities," another user responded. Recommended reading: Why this 'historic' Sussex city is among the happiest places to live in Britain 'Beautiful' market town in Sussex named one of Britain's happiest places to live Hove named among UK's best places to live in 2025 Another added: "Born here ... longest I've been away is two weeks ...... and I hated it and couldn't wait to get home again.... I have very firm roots." A third said: "I agree, Brighton is an excellent place to live. Bristol is a close second." Do you think Brighton is a friendly city? Let us know in the comments.
CBS News
19-06-2025
- CBS News
Fontana police chief warns of misidentifying local law enforcement with ICE agents
The chief of the Fontana Police Department said officer safety is at risk as department officers are being confused for ICE or federal agents involved in immigration enforcement, mostly as misinformation spreads through social media, he said. Chief Michael Dorsey said at a Thursday news conference that these misunderstandings have led to people disrupting active police duties unrelated to ICE immigration operations. "As your chief of police, let me be clear, the Fontana Police Department is committed to protecting and serving all members of our community," Dorsey said. "Our mission is to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who lives, works, or visits our city." The chief gave recent examples of misinformation and misidentification. He said three uniformed police officers working a burglary and trespassing investigation were said on social media to be "knocking door-to-door, asking for immigration paperwork and citizenship, and that just simply isn't true," Dorsey said. He also said there have been undercover officers working criminal investigations that have been surrounded by community members who think they are conducting immigration enforcement. "They are trying to often times arrest criminal violators, nothing to do with immigration enforcement, and they are being surrounded. Their focus is being drawn away from their task at hand and it's creating officer safety issues," Dorsey said. The chief also wanted to allay fears in contacting local police, noting the California Values Act, which states, "California law enforcement agencies shall not use agency or department moneys or personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest persons for immigration enforcement purposes." "We believe that no one should fear contacting the police to report a crime, seek help, or cooperate in an investigation because of their immigration status," Dorsey said. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department also sent out a similar community message on X, stating "all white vehicles are NOT ICE." The department clarified that they have a fleet of unmarked vehicles in all colors, makes and models, "none of which include immigration enforcement." "We have had two incidents of our sheriff's department personnel targeted while driving our unmarked units and in one case they were run off the road," the department wrote on X.
ABC News
09-06-2025
- ABC News
A third of cases involving use of force by ACT police were escalated by officers, ombudsman finds
A third of cases involving the use of force by police in the ACT involved situations being unnecessarily escalated by the "unprofessional behaviour" of officers, a report has found. The ACT Ombudsman analysed more than 6,200 use-of-force reports and 200 clips of body-worn camera vision and CCTV recorded between January 2019 and December 2023. Officers drew, aimed or discharged a taser more than 1,600 times during that period. A firearm was used in almost 320 incidents, and a baton was used almost 260 times. Ombudsman Iain Anderson said the investigation had uncovered cases where the police response had "unnecessarily inflamed situations", resulting in poor outcomes. "While we have seen some excellent conduct by officers, handling difficult interactions with care and respect, we are concerned at the unprofessional conduct, offensive and abusive language, and unnecessary aggression displayed by some officers, the seniority of whom does not appear to have been a determining factor," he said in the report. Mr Anderson said while force was sometimes necessary to uphold safety, misusing it eroded community trust. "It also has the potential to disproportionately impact vulnerable members of the ACT community, including young people, First Nations people and those experiencing mental health challenges," he said. About 17 per cent of use-of-force cases involved a mental health incident and 10 per cent involved an intoxicated person. Police officers reported experiencing injuries in 21 per cent of confrontations, ranging from minor injuries, like bruises or scratches, to major injuries including serious head knocks or broken bones. In one case highlighted by the ombudsman, police stopped a suspected drink driver, threw him to the ground, handcuffed him and left him face down in the gutter. The matter was heard in the ACT Magistrates Court in 2022, where Magistrate James Lawton took aim at the officers' unlawful use of force. "Removing the defendant from his car without giving him opportunity to comply and then throwing him to the ground were outrageous," he said. "The actions of these officers [were] deplorable and should be denounced. "A strong message must be sent that this behaviour will not be tolerated." In another case criticised by the ombudsman, police arrested a heavily intoxicated 16-year-old boy who had fallen off a bench with his pants tangled around his ankles. The teenager had sworn repeatedly at police but had not displayed physical aggression before he was grabbed, rolled over and handcuffed, the report found. As the situation escalated, the boy spat at police and was pepper sprayed. He was denied his request to have his eyes washed out, with an officer telling him "No! Don't f***ing spit at us, c***." The ombudsman made 13 recommendations to improve the use of force in the ACT. They include better equipping officers to engage with intoxicated people and those experiencing a mental health crisis. The Ombudsman has also called for extra safeguards around the way young people are handcuffed. Other recommendations relate to improving the use of body-worn cameras. "By not reliably collecting audio and visual [body-worn camera] evidence, ACT Policing is failing to comply with the law and undermining the legislative intent of promoting accountability and protecting the safety of both police officers and members of the community," the ombudsman's report said. ACT Policing has fully accepted two of the report's recommendations, partially accepted eight and not accepted three. In a letter of response to the ombudsman, ACT Chief Police Officer Scott Lee said the investigation overlooked the many times officers were able to de-escalate situations without needing to use force. He said in most cases, force is used reasonably and proportionately. "Where you identified officer conduct lacking and not appropriately dealt with, I would like to assure you that ACT Policing members are held to account." Deputy Commissioner Lee said behaviour in the report would be reviewed, noting several cases had already been referred to the Professional Standards Unit. Sanctions for officers found to have engaged in misconduct range from verbal counselling to criminal charges. In September 2024, ACT Policing announced the establishment of an Operations Safety Practices Committee, to "further enhance rigour around the use of force by members".
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
West Sac PD unveils new crime statistic tool
( — On Wednesday night, the West Sacramento Police Department unveiled a new transparency tool for residents called Commons. It gives the public direct access to criminal justice data in West Sacramento. The Commons website shares relevant crime statistics and long-term trends in West Sacramento. WSPD is working with the national non-profit Measures for Justice and has been guided by a community advisory board. It's the first of its kind in Northern California, a resource WSPD hopes will build community trust. Stanislaus SWAT Association supports victims' families with GoFundMe 'It allows us to come together in that commonality around that objective information and not demote somebody's personal experience, but be able to contextualize it within that data,' said WSPD Chief Robert Strange. Here's how to access Commons: Go to Click on What We Do Then Click Commons Scroll down and click on California, under Where Commons is helping communities today Finally, click EXPLORE under West Sacramento, CA The top of the Commons dashboard features three tabs, including policy goal, police data, and city information. WSPD's policy goal is to 'Maintain or reduce the 10.9-minute call-to-arriving times for community-generated calls through March 2026, as commitment and staffing levels change.' Chief Strange said that the goal is in response to community concerns: 'It's a reflection of the community saying, we appreciate our officers, but we want to make sure that there's enough of you to make sure you get to those emergencies in a time frame we want you to arrive.' West Sacramento Police and Measure for Justice will continue to update Commons quarterly to be transparent and provide reliable information. 'There will be some, some gaps in what people see on that dashboard that represent some of the goals we have in the future for what will be able to provide,' said Chief Strange. 'I think this is a product that helps create a little bit of certainty. Even in those times where it seems like some of that's shaken.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
